Police Could Access Public Cameras in Deputy Cam Program

Police could have access to private camera systems if a new Deputy Cam program pilot proves useful. The proposed program, now in the beginning stages of its six-month-long pilot, would allow Moreno Valley police to access the private security cameras of volunteer businesses as they investigate crimes in the city. The program could also be used to supplement the city’s already existing Citywide Camera System that allows police to assess a scene prior to their arrival and also records Moreno Valley traffic, among other functions, according to a release by the city. The release states that the idea was to “maximize the effectiveness of public and private security cameras in deterring crime. Private security cameras would augment “the amount of visual evidence to successfully prosecute illegal activities in our city,” according to the release. Five Moreno Valley businesses will participate in the pilot, connecting their cameras to a service that allows police to see live views of existing cameras. While businesses who participate in the pilot program won’t be expected to pay expenses related to the deputy cam system, business owners and other residents who elect to deputize their cameras will be asked to pay an additional one time cost of $1,500 to connect to the system and pay an annual $89 fee each year they are connected. “It is a service,” said Steve Hargis, the city’s technology services division manager. According to Moreno Valley Police Chief Joel Ontiveros, the city’s camera system which began 18 months ago has helped solve several crimes in Moreno Valley, including more than 200 cases ranging from vehicle collisions to homicides. In one instance, a police officer tapped into the system while a crime was taking place and was able to give real-time directions to officers en route to the scene. Ultimately, the police took the criminal into custody. “That’s been an unanticipated benefit,” said Hargis. “When police get a call, they’re able to assess the situation and tell responding officers what to expect before they get there.” The cameras also help deter crime, but to what extent, police are unsure. “It’s impossible to measure how many crimes the cameras deter, but when people know cameras are around, they tend to follow the law,” Ontiveros said. The city worked with the Avrio RMS Group, an IP-surveillance solutions firm that has helped establish deputy cam programs throughout the country, to institute the Citywide Camera System and provide the additional gateway devices that will allow Moreno Valley police to access the participating private cameras. Hargis said business owners won’t be asked to upgrade their camera systems should they choose to participate in the program, and that while security camera quality is an important factor in solving crime, it’s not everything. “It’s a definite concern and it was one of the reasons we were interested in doing a pilot program. There are so many variables with video,” he said. This includes internet connection, which, if not optimal, could reduce the view of a good quality security camera to one not as sharp in order to stream the view through the internet. Hargis added, “If we get a view that doesn’t look quite good, but we can tell what’s going on, that could be good enough. Officers can assess the situation first and then later go back to the business owner and get the higher quality video.” Issues concerning privacy were brought up when the city began talks to implement the Citywide Camera System over a year ago, and the city took measures to ease concerns through a series of public privacy meetings, explained Hargis. Citing the popularity of smart phones and their video capabilities, Ontiveros said, “You’re fooling yourself if you think you have anonymity. It doesn’t exist.” By that same token, he was adamant that privacy would not be violated, as concerns of a "Big Brother" type society are considered. “Cameras that are in public areas show public areas only,” Chief Ontiveros said. “If there is a private home or property in view from a public camera, we mask the private areas and that won’t change. We want to ensure that people’s privacy is protected," Ontiveros said. “Once they found out the cameras were not red-light cameras... citizens, at least the ones who came to the meetings, were more excited about the program than they were concerned,” said Hargis. “I’m sure there are people out there who will never like the idea of cameras in public places, but when the cameras are in a public place where there is no expectation of privacy, we can use them to solve crimes.”