The Winter Park Police Department is looking to partner with residents willing to help expand its network of crime solving resources. A video, posted this week to WPPD social media accounts, is spreading the word about the voluntary program, dubbed Connect Winter Park, which provides detectives with a database of surveillance camera locations that can assist with evidence collection.
The initiative will augment the camera network utilized by the city’s Real-Time Crime Center. Lt. Kevin Roesner of the WPPD Community Policing Unit told the32789 that the current database, which includes access to live feeds and recorded footage, is the result of a year-long effort to develop partnerships with businesses and community organizations. “It allows us to rapidly locate live and historic camera footage and follow it in case there’s a suspect in the area, or if we have a missing person,” he said. A real-time surveillance program has been online for approximately six months with participants ranging from Park Avenue businesses to Orange County Schools and the Florida Department of Transportation. “We can view license plate readers, security cameras, and see the addresses where cameras are located.”
The live-feeds are connected with the permission of the owners via the FUSUS surveillance data integration platform. Real-time connectivity requires the purchase and installation of a FUSUS device that can combine the feeds from multiple cameras from the same owner while connecting to the Real-Time Crime Center. According to Roesner, state and county law enforcement grants helped to fund the project and a limited number of FUSUS devices were provided, which are being utilized at municipal buildings.
Live-feed connections are the highest of the two-level participation program that makes up Connect Winter Park. Residents wanting to participate can register online for the Level 1 option that does not require a connection device. In the event of a crime or emergency, a Police Department representative will make contact and ask the Level 1 participant to search recorded footage for evidence. A detective can also be made available to help review footage with the owner’s permission.
Participation in both Connect Winter Park levels is voluntary and all collected footage and registration information is protected. “We don’t share any information outside of law enforcement,” Roesner said. “We hope residents see the value in helping us quickly locate information and develop leads that can help us solve more crimes.”
Click here for more information and to register for the Connect Winter Park program, or email connectwinterpark@cityofwinterpark.org.