The Pell City Police Department is partnering with Axon Fusus, a national platform that allows law enforcement to collect a network of residential and business security cameras. Now, they are asking residents to sign up to share their camera location and video access.
"The Police Department (PCPD) is committed to fostering a safer and more connected community through innovative technology and proactive partnerships," the department stated.
However, some residents are skeptical.
"This program troubles me, and I hate to see technology used against us like this," said Ethan Ramsey. "Not only is it a gross misstep into our private spaces, it's a grift perpetrated on the home and business owners in the city, promising, or in the least, implying premium monitoring and protection for those that can afford this system."
Ramsey lived in Pell City for 25 years. Although he moved away a year ago, he said he is still concerned for his neighbors and wants to warn them.
"It's not a giant leap to infer that they will eventually use this access to private areas via personally owned cameras to profile individuals in the community, even the very people that gave them the access in the first place," he continued.
The police department provided a link for residents to apply to share their camera locations.
The application to participate asks for the number of internal cameras and the number of external cameras. To submit the application, you must sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the police department.
"The goal of this agreement is to set forth guidelines for sharing of Partner's video sources with the Department," the MOU states.
Although the graphic requesting camera location states, "Sharing does not mean the PD will have access to your camera," a section of the MOU clearly states video access will be granted but that it should not be intended or expected that the cameras will be routinely monitored in real-time by the department.
The MOU states, "Further, the Department will ensure video access is strictly limited to personnel responsible for monitoring the system, and authorized login metadata will be tracked and logged. "
The agreement also has a disclaimer for any damages.
"IN NO EVENT WILL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOST REVENUES, PROFITS, OR GOODWILL, FOR ANY MATTER ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE PERFORMANCE OR NONPERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT," the MOU states.
The MOU is effective for five years after signing.
Ramsey went through the registration process to read the disclaimers, and he said what he read horrified him.
"The way it's worded makes it obvious how this is to be used and how it will be abused," he said.
The department said camera access would help them quickly investigate incidents and create a safer Pell City. A grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ) funded the partnership.
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