Dallas police launch CONNECT DALLAS, a new camera sharing program
DALLAS - Dallas police want to team up with camera owners in the city to try to solve crimes more quickly.
The Dallas Police Department is launching a volunteer camera registry program called CONNECT DALLAS. It will allow residents, businesses, and organizations to register their security cameras online.
"It will improve public safety," explained Kristin Lowman with the Dallas Police Department. "In the past, it’s sometimes taken days, even months sometimes for detectives to canvas an area or during an emergency to learn more information, to go around and get evidence."
People can opt in to the program by registering their addresses and cameras at connectdallas.org.
While police use traditional investigative skills on the street, video from homes, businesses and other organizations would be screened in real-time at the Dallas Fusion Crime Center.
"These are the people working here that have access to that technology. It is a very specific group of people that have access," Lowman said. "Authorized Dallas police employees that have access to those cameras to that map and that information."
The Dallas Police Department is launching a volunteer camera registry program called CONNECT DALLAS. It will allow residents, businesses, and organizations to register their security cameras online.
Registering a camera does not automatically give police access to a live video stream. For homeowners, investigators will still need to ask permission to see the video if something happens.
But, signing up helps the Dallas PD quickly find the nearest camera when there is an emergency or investigation.
Lowman says CONNECT DALLAS is completely voluntary, and online registration only takes about a minute.
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"So in the event that there is an emergency or an investigation, a detective can reach out via email about that particular incident," she said.
People can also give police direct access to their camera systems.
"That's a little bit more in-depth where you would actually purchase a FususCORE device," Lowman explained. "And that would give a real-time option to actually view those cameras in an emergency situation."
The registered cameras could help police catch more people committing crimes.
"This is something that hopefully can get them ahead in their investigations," Lowman said.
Several other North Texas cities, including Arlington and Fort Worth, already have similar programs in place.
To learn more or to sign up, visit connectdallas.org.