| Today the City of Orlando and Orlando Police Department (OPD) launched its latest effort to leverage state-of-the-art technology and collaborations with businesses and residents to collectively work together to keep Orlando safe. The new program, Orlando Connect, aims to integrate city-owned cameras and privately-owned cameras together to transform the way police officers can respond to, solve, and deter crime.
“As a future ready city, we are always looking at how we can leverage emerging technology in a way that benefits our residents and businesses,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “This new program does just that, while also furthering our efforts to keep Orlando safe in the ever-changing world we live in.”
Currently, Orlando Connect operates with a network of more than 1,100 city-owned cameras located throughout the city. The video feeds are unified into the OPD’s Crime Center and can be accessed live by officers on their cellphones and laptops to assist them in responding to public safety situations before they even arrive on scene; increasing safety, efficiency, and effectiveness for officers and the community.
Today leaders announced that residents and business can now join the program by registering their cameras and/or integrating their systems to channel their privately-owned security camera footage directly to officers to access when necessary.
“The ability this integrated system has to expand the eyes of the police department, with capability to access both public and private camera feeds, is a game-changer for fighting and deterring crime,” said Orlando Police Chief Eric D. Smith. “The program will not only give our officers the latest tool in technology to fight crime with, but will also help expedite the gathering of evidence, ultimately leading to swifter capture of criminals.”
Businesses and residents interested in joining the program have two options – to register or integrate their cameras. Registering a camera lets officers know where private security cameras are located and provides contact information to assist with getting video footage when needed to investigate a crime. The integrated feature allows a business or resident to share their live video feeds directly from their cameras to police, allowing them to immediately access them in the investigation of criminal activity.
Called by some as the “neighborhood watch of the 21st century,” similar programs in Atlanta and Minneapolis have seen great success with resident and business engagement, preventing and solving crimes and helping assist vulnerable citizens.
The program has strict guidelines that are in accordance with current and applicable law, to uphold all privacy laws and ensure there are no violations of any individual’s civil rights. For example, the program will only accept video feeds from private cameras that are located where the public has access to be and there is no expectation of privacy related to that space. Additionally, the department has developed a robust policy to govern the program and ensure the cameras are only accessed during public safety incidents and that no private video feeds are recorded, Public Safety Camera Network Policy.
To join the Orlando Connect program and register or integrate camera systems, residents and businesses can go to Orlando.gov/orlandoconnect.
For businesses located in the Downtown CRA there is also a grant program, Safety Awareness for Everyone (S.A.F.E.), that can assist with the purchase of security cameras (as well identification scanners and metal detectors) to help further participation in the Orlando Connect program and enhance safety in the downtown core. For more information on S.A.F.E, click here.
Additional photos at Orlando Connect.
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