Sheriff’s Office Wants To Create A Camera Database
Registry Could Help With Investigations, Sheriff Says
Bailiffs Kelly Reynolds and David Reilly watch security footage at Mercer County Judicial Center.
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
rmoore@harrodsburgherald.com
The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office is looking to build a camera database.
The sheriff’s office is asking local businesses and residents to register their security cameras. This is the first step in the Community Camera Initiative, in which the sheriff’s office hopes to include privately collected surveillance footage in their investigations.
“We’d like an idea of where the cameras are and where they’re pointed,” said Sheriff Ernie Kelty.
Kelty said privately owned security footage had played a key role in several recent investigations, including locating a stolen trailer and prosecuting the thief who took it.
He said several other police agencies have successfully instituted similar ideas.
“We’re trying to do the same thing,” Kelty said.
Registering a security camera will not give the sheriff’s office access to your footage. The owner’s consent is still needed. The registry only gives investigators somewhere to start. The information will not be made public, the sheriff said.
Deputies will begin gathering information as soon as possible.
Please contact Capt. Scott Elder at the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office with any questions at 734-4221.
To learn more, check out this week’s issue of the Harrodsburg Herald.
