TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Eve R. Irvine, Chief of Police
Tim Hageman, Police Captain
Julie Dahlgren, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Report on the Police Department’s Residential and Commercial Security Camera Registration Program (Police Chief Irvine).
RECEIVE REPORT AND DISCUSS
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the report on Police Department residential and commercial Security Camera Registration Program.
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
At the November 3, 2015, City Council meeting, staff was directed to report back to City Council regarding the feasibility of implementing a Security Camera Registration Program.
The purpose of a Security Camera Registration Program is to provide the Police Department with locations of privately-owned surveillance cameras that view public spaces (such as streets, parking lots, alleys, or sidewalks) to assist officers and investigators in developing leads during an investigation. Registration does not give direct access private video feeds.
The Police Department evaluated similar programs implemented by other California police agencies (including Hermosa Beach and El Segundo Police Department) and determined that it was both viable and beneficial for the Manhattan Beach community.
DISCUSSION:
The Manhattan Beach Police Department launched their Security Camera Registration Program on February 18, 2016. The Police Department’s Community Affairs Office administers the program, with support from the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Division of Information Technology. In addition to providing the Police Department with another opportunity to partner with the community in crime fighting efforts, the program also complements the Police Department’s 2016-2018 Strategic Plan objective to enhance usage of crime reduction technologies.
When a crime occurs in the vicinity of a registered camera, a representative from the Manhattan Beach Police Department may contact the registered owner of the camera and request to review the recorded footage relevant to the date and time of the incident. The Manhattan Beach Police Department will not have direct access to camera systems. Participation in the program is voluntary; to register, complete the Security Camera Registration Form on the City website, www.citymb.info/MBPDCams <http://www.citymb.info/MBPDCams>.
The Camera Registration program will not replace the current practice of officers and detectives walking the neighborhood and contacting locations for video evidence. However, it will allow the Police Department to expedite our investigations in a collaborative effort with our community.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
Since the program was launched on February 18, 2016, the Police Department has received approximately 50 registrations, primarily from residential addresses. The Police Department distributed a press release about the program via media contacts, the City website, City e-notification, Nixle, and the Neighborhood Watch e-blast. The program has also been promoted on the Police Department’s new Facebook page, www.facebook.com/manhattanbchpd <http://www.facebook.com/manhattanbchpd>.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Not applicable.
LEGAL REVIEW:
Not applicable.
CONCLUSION:
Residents and business owners are encouraged to register their video surveillance systems with the Police Department. The Police Department is committed to partnering with the community to enhance crime prevention efforts and solve crime.