Buda police are asking to use residents’ and businesses’ surveillance cameras in a new crime prevention program called Smart Watch.
Locals can share their surveillance camera locations with police and can voluntarily provide the footage for investigations.
If a neighborhood or business is targeted, police will check Smart Watch to find cameras in the affected area that could help the investigation, said Crime Prevention Officer Freddy Erdman.
“First, we identify a potential area of impact then we go to a secure registry (Smart Watch) and break it down by subdivision or location that may have video evidence. Myself, detectives, or officers involved will contact people on the registry and ask to review their video and see if they captured anything,” Erdman said.
The Smart Watch is a way for Buda police to create a partnership with the community, said Erdman. Participation in the program is entirely based on consent of the camera owner.
“We don’t have remote access to the cameras. People are not obligated to turn it over,” Erdman said. “They can participate at any level they want. If they share the video, that’s great. If not, thank you for your time.”
The video footage could potentially be used in a criminal investigation. However, Erdman said it is unlikely that the camera owner will be brought to court or any legal proceedings in the case. Depending on the type of investigation, the camera owner could be used as a witness, but Erdman said it is unlikely.
To sign up for the Smart Watch Program, go online to find the form.
