The Salt Lake City Police Department is working with local businesses and homeowners to stamp out crime in and around Pioneer Park…with video cameras.
The SafeCam program encourages businesses and residents to share their security camera footage with police who can then view the camera footage in real time by tapping into their IP addresses. Mike Brown is Deputy Police Chief at the Salt Lake City Police Department. He says businesses and developers are looking to clean up the neighborhood along Pioneer Park which is a well-known spot for drug deals.
“There is a love of this area, Brown says. “This is a great park, great area. There are a lot of concerts, a lot of activities. And they want to see this neighborhood thrive. So they are more than willing to share those camera feeds with us to help us and partner with us in solving crime.”
Rene Oehlerking is with the Pioneer Park Coalition-a group of business owners and developers who want to make the park safer. Oehlerking is also the marketing director for Garbett Homes, which is set to break ground on a 119-unit condo complex adjacent to the park, fixed with security cameras that will feed directly into the police department.
He says the business community is excited about the possibility of a crime-free neighborhood.
“No one has come to us with any concerns about privacy,” Oehlerking says. ”Right now they’re concerned about their lives. And so, if the cameras are able to change that and to have a drug free, crime free park, everyone’s on board.”
Chief Mike Brown noted, while the police can log on and look at security cameras at any time, the program is voluntary.
