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Loyalist Township to participate in community security footage program

Municipal building in background with flags and flower bed in foreground
The Odessa Municipal Office where Loyalist Township Council Meetings are held. Photo by Ted Evans.
Ted Evans - CJAI - Stella • ON | 25-10-2023
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Loyalist Township will be officially registering footage from township security cameras with CAMSAFE.

Staff Sargent with the Belleville City Police Jeremy Ashley made a presentation highlighting the benefits of the CAMSAFE program to Loyalist Township council on Monday. The CAMSAFE program is a free registry that allows businesses, industries, residents and municipalities to register their security camera footage on a secure platform. The location of the cameras can then be accessed by municipal police forces as a way to contact owners to request their video footage. The owner may accept or deny this request and is not required to attend in court. All components of the program are voluntary and no one has direct access to the video footage.

Mayor Jim Hegadorn noted how this program could help Loyalist.

"Having this list would certainly help be able to glean information that could help an investigation proceed quickly," said Hegadorn.

Video evidence can play a key role in solving crimes or acts of vandalism. According to staff's report, locating video evidence is a very time consuming process for police services. Ashley noted the importance of video evidence.

"In 99 per cent of the cases that we go to, and OPP, you're looking for that best evidence, and that would be video. Sourcing that video is difficult," said Ashley.

According to CAMSAFE's website, the idea was inspired by similar projects such as Red Deer Capture in Alberta, and SafeCam in Philadelphia, PA. In 2020, Alarm Systems partnered with the Belleville Police Service and a local web designer to develop a website to house the initiative. In 2022, the OPP joined on as a significant partner, and within one year, rolled out CAMSAFE to all its detachments across the province. The program is currently owned and operated by Belleville Police Service. Ashley explained how the program has grown.

"It was an idea as a tool for law enforcement, and what has happened over the last 2 years with this program is that it has changed into not only that, but a fantastic way for the police to be able to partner with the public." said Ashley.

Partnering with the OPP, staff will also be advertising and promoting the program to residents.

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