BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF PASCACK PRESS
PASCACK VALLEY AREA, N.J.—Three municipalities—two in the Pascack Valley area and one in the Northern Valley area—are initiating efforts to better capture security video taken by home, corporate and portable police cameras.
The three efforts, in Montvale, Emerson and Englewood, are just beginning. All aim to enlist residents and businesses in collaborative efforts to better protect neighborhoods and use surveillance video to assist criminal investigations.
Told of the local initiatives to use security camera video—including surveillance from overhead security cameras and video from doorbell security systems— the president of Bergen County Police Chiefs Association lauded the innovative efforts.
“These could be a valuable tool,” said Old Tappan Police Chief Thomas Shine, head of the county police chiefs’ organization.
Shine said he had heard of such efforts but was not aware of the Montvale and Englewood efforts.
“I think this is so relatively new that we [the association] have not even had discussions of it,” he said, referring to use of home and business security video systems.
Shine said he was aware that certain security systems—such as a certain doorbell video system—can be networked together to provide security video but was not sure about specifics.
He said use of security cameras by police “is a relatively new concept [that] may be something we would like to look into.”
‘Community Camera’ debuts
Montvale’s police department began its Community Camera program on March 1 and posted program specifics online March 12.
“It is a strictly voluntary program where we are asking residents and businesses to register their video surveillance systems. Our hopes are that we can maintain a database of camera locations throughout the town that will enable us to quickly identify a source of evidence should we have an incident/crime occur,” said Police Chief Joseph Sanfilippo.
Sanfilippo noted the police department will not have direct access to anyone’s security system, and residents can opt-out at any time from the program.
The camera registration program set up by Montvale police is a simple two-step online program, Sanfilippo said, which includes registration of security cameras and confirmation.
Owners of security cameras registered with police will only be contacted should an incident occur in their area and names of all camera owners remain confidential, state program rules posted online.
“[The] Montvale Community Cameras goal is to create a safer community through partnering residents and businesses with the Montvale Police Department,” states the online registration.
Under program terms and conditions, participants agree that home video may be used as evidence at any stage of investigation; video provided to Montvale PD is for official use only; registrants are not acting as an agent/employee of Montvale PD at any time; registrants will be contacted to obtain video footage; and participants agree not to release video or still images to media without consulting Montvale PD.
“This footage may help establish leads, identify suspects and save valuable investigative time,” notes the program announcement.
Sanfilippo said video from home security cameras, including doorbell video security cameras, is all part of a community-wide program.
“There are also a lot of homes with video doorbells. Systems are becoming much more affordable, and easily found in local stores. They have also become easier to install with many wireless camera systems on the market,” Sanfilippo said.
“We haven’t really set any type of target for participation, but are hopeful that it will catch on here, and at other police departments as well,” the chief said.
Emerson’s camera plans
Also in Pascack Valley, Emerson Police Chief Michael Mazzeo recently requested a pole-mounted portable video surveillance system in a mid-February budget request to Borough Council.
Mazzeo said the video camera—estimated at $15,000—will provide a streaming view of an area for crime prevention and investigation, such as providing evidence of car burglaries and similar crimes.
Mazzeo noted he spoke with North Arlington’s police chief, who employs two such cameras, and he recommended use of the portable surveillance camera.
Crime ‘ring’ video
In Englewood, police officials told residents March 11 that an April community forum to elaborate on home security options will include detailed discussion of a proprietary home doorbell video security system.
Englewood Deputy Police Chief Gregory Halstead told about 50 residents at a community safety forum that a proprietary doorbell security system that records video will be discussed at a community forum planned for mid-April on home security.
A date for the community forum on home security was not set as of press time.
“What they do [doorbell manufacturer] is they offer incentives to residents for subscribing to their service,” said Halstead of the doorbell video security system.
“And you do not have to give your name,” he told a resident concerned about privacy when making a complaint or call to the police department.
Halstead said the doorbell system manufacturer can provide police with what homeowners in a specific area have the proprietary doorbell system.
Halstead said he could then contact homeowners by email to ask if they were willing to share home video with police and that video can then be provided to the police.
He said the doorbell security system was an option that he had discussed with Police Chief Lawrence Suffern.
At the meeting, Suffern told residents that the department ”obviously wants to get as much information as we can” when a crime occurs and routinely inquires to find residents with video doorbells or security video systems.
What they do [doorbell manufacturer] is they offer incentives to residents for subscribing to their service,” said Halstead of the doorbell video security system.
“And you do not have to give your name,” he told a resident concerned about privacy when making a complaint or call to the police department.
Halstead said the doorbell system manufacturer can provide police with what homeowners in a specific area have the proprietary doorbell system.
Halstead said he could then contact homeowners by email to ask if they were willing to share home video with police and that video can then be provided to the police.
He said the doorbell security system was an option that he had discussed with Police Chief Lawrence Suffern.
At the meeting, Suffern told residents that the department ”obviously wants to get as much information as we can” when a crime occurs and routinely inquires to find residents with video doorbells or security video systems.
‘Help us to prosecute’
“If you have that footage and it’s available that will help us to prosecute those individuals,” Suffern said.
Halstead pointed out the anonymity of obtaining video from a doorbell home security system and said that a representative from one doorbell security video system would attend a city-sponsored home safety meeting.
Suffern said notice for the mid-April forum—tentatively planned for Monday, April 15—will be posted on the city website when details are confirmed.
The proprietary doorbell video security system mentioned by Halstead costs between $30 to $100 yearly, plus cost of doorbell, according to online estimates.
Similar products exist that use a home Wi-Fi network and phone app to alert you when a person approaches your front door. Options for most systems include activating home alarms, lights, warnings and video recording.