NW Illinois News

The Freeport city council recently of approved a new initiative from the Police Department.

Inspired by another police program in the state, the Freeport Police Department is looking to create an initiative to distribute Ring doorbell cameras to citizens living in proximity to Empire (S), Lincoln and Main (N), Adams (E), and West (W) avenues. During a Jan. 3 city council meeting, Freeport Police Chief Matt Summers explained that this area has been proven to be where the majority of the department’s shots fired calls originate from.

"There is some thought that went into [putting cameras in hotspots outside the zone]. However, we only have a limited number of funds right now," Summers said. "If we can find more funds, maybe we can expand that out. Right now, it's kind of a pilot program to see how well this will work. In my opinion, where the majority of the shots are being fired and a lot of these things are occurring–the more cameras we can have, the better."

The cameras would be distributed on a first come first serve basis to residents who can show proof of their residency within the area and have the wi-fi to support the system. The department would also give them a $40 gift card to cover one year’s worth of data storage. The department hopes that residents will place the devices on the outer wall of their homes so that if there were an incident, they would be willing to share the footage recorded near their homes with officers.

The department will start with 35 cameras for this pilot program, with the potential to expand if it goes well. The chief has talked with some of the departments across Winnebago county that have initiated this and feel it is worth a test in Freeport.

The council approved the resolution to purchase the cameras and begin the program.