The Blue Earth Police Community Camera Registration Program is a voluntary record of home or business security cameras, meant to assist officers during an investigation.
In the event of a critical incident or criminal investigation, business or residential security cameras may capture evidence essential to solving a case. Police investigations frequently involve officers canvassing neighborhoods surrounding a crime scene for security cameras. Knowing where they are located greatly speeds up investigations by allowing officers to prioritize where to begin looking for evidence. Many times, the best available video evidence is not of the crime scene itself, but of pathways and streets leading into and out of the crime scene.
Video cameras are increasingly being used in both residential and commercial properties to prevent crime and to document events as they occur. As such, video evidence has become extremely helpful in solving crimes, identifying perpetrators, and serves as valuable evidence in court.
The Blue Earth Police Department is forming a program that allows residents and businesses that have security video cameras on their property to register them with the police department. Participation in the Blue Earth Police Camera Registration Program is completely voluntary and there is no fee. All registered information is kept confidential and will only be viewed by Blue Earth Police Department personnel during criminal investigations. The Blue Earth Police Department does not monitor or control any registered cameras. Registering your camera does not provide the department with direct access to the cameras, or the user log in information. Users may request to be removed at any time. Police may ask program members to check their video footage for a specific date and time that may show activity involved with a crime.
What helpful information will you need to provide to register your security camera system with the Blue Earth Police Department?
o Name
o Address (If a business please add the name of your business)
o Primary Contact information (Phone number, Email address)
o How long will your system store video footage before it is deleted?
o What areas does your camera system cover? (I.E. Front yard, Backyard, Overlooks streets.)
The Police Department will maintain a list of residents and businesses that have camera systems and what areas in the community they may be capturing. Participating in this program would greatly assist the Police Department when there is a need to canvas the area for information that would help solve crimes.
If you are interested in participating in this partnership with the Blue Earth Police Department, please complete the registration form HERE.
Policy and Terms of Use:
Registration is voluntary and there is no cost associated with registration. Registering your camera does not provide the Blue Earth Police Department with direct access to your cameras. You may request your registration be removed at any time. An individual’s personal information will be kept confidential by the Blue Earth Police Department subject to disclosure only as may be required by law, court order, or for law enforcement purposes. The information you submit may be accessed by law enforcement personnel who are investigating a crime in the vicinity of where your camera is located. Police personnel, if necessary, may request a copy of any video captured by your camera, which may assist in the investigation of a crime.
Any footage containing or related to criminal activity may be collected by the Blue Earth Police Department for use as evidence during any stage of a criminal proceeding. Under no circumstance shall registered members construe that they are acting as an agent and/or employee of the City of Blue Earth and/or the Blue Earth Police Department through the program. If necessary, the Blue Earth Police Department will contact you directly, using information provided during registration, to request the appropriate video surveillance footage. By submitting this information, the registered member understands and agrees to the above policy and terms of use.
If you are considering purchasing a video surveillance system, please consider the following:
o The higher the resolution of the video the better results that will be yielded.
o A minimum of 30 days storage of information is recommended.
o Camera placement is extremely important.
o Camera(s) should face entrance and exit points; and,
o Camera(s) should be located on private property only.
Note: Cameras can be mounted on private property only. They cannot be mounted on telephone poles, street light poles or other town sign poles (street signs, directional signs).
