PLEASANT PRAIRIE POLICE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES NEW COMMUNITY CAMERA PARTNERSHIP

The Pleasant Prairie Police Department is initiating a new community crime fighting partnership with Village residents. The initiative, known as the Community Camera Partnership enables residents to let the Police Department know if they'd be willing to share video footage from home security cameras aimed outdoors should a crime or suspicious activity occur in their neighborhood.

The department sees the partnership as a modern day extension of the Neighborhood Watch Program. Chief of Police David Smetana explained, "This is today's version of being a good neighbor. Neighbors can take this proactive step to help keep their neighborhoods safe and free of crime."

"The department hopes to achieve a two-fold benefit for the community through the partnership. We hope to solve more crime in our community more efficiently, and we hope to deter future crime from occurring." Smetana explained, "Once word of the partnership gets out, we hope people planning a crime in Pleasant Prairie think twice about being caught on camera."

During 2016, the Police Department sought community input related to the voluntary partnership through the Open Village Hall forum on the Village website. The response received was positive, and since that time, the department has been working through the technical steps in order to get the initiative up and running.

Through a short questionnaire on the Village website, residents can log their home as a location where a camera may be able to provide assistance should a crime or suspicious activity occur. The locations will be marked on a map. If a crime is reported near one of the locations, officers would know that they could contact a resident in the area to ask them to look at their camera footage.

"It's important to note that all aspects of this program are completely voluntary, and that at no time would the police have any remote access to the security system," Smetana stated. "The home owner remains in complete control of their personal camera system."

Residents who wish to participate can access the online questionnaire by clicking here. Residents with questions about the partnership, or those who would like to share video evidence without completing the questionnaire, can email [email protected].

Smetana added, "Members of the Pleasant Prairie Police Department would like to thank the community for the many ways they've shown support for the department over the years. Your involvement truly makes our community a safer place, and the value of that involvement can't be stressed enough. Thank you."

2017