The Community Camera project, launched Wednesday, allows homeowners and business owners with surveillance cameras installed on their property to register with the FDPD to let authorities know they’re willing to help if footage of the area is needed.

With surveillance becoming more common in homes through innovative solutions such as cameras in doorbells, local police are making use of a program that has been launched in other larger areas across Iowa and the country.

“If it’s got video, we’re interested in it,” said Lt. Matt Lundberg.

The program will make their current efforts of going door to door to scour for houses and businesses with cameras more streamlined, said Police Chief Roger Porter. The new system will save police man hours and resources.

“There’s only 40 officers here, and a quarter of us are stuck in office space,” Porter said. “We definitely need the public’s help in solving these crimes.”

Those who register will be contacted only if footage from their system is needed for an investigation. Their participation in the program will remain confidential. Police are not able to gain remote access to camera systems and will still require the voluntary cooperation of camera owners to access footage at any given time. Owners are also free to opt out of the program at any time.

“Mainly it’s just opening the door so we know they have a camera and they’re willing to work with us,” Porter said.

Even for smaller crimes other than homicides and robberies, Detective Larry Hedlund said camera recordings can be invaluable in piecing together information and preventing crime in progress from continuing.

“It’s becoming more and more often,” that police rely on camera footage to solve crimes, Lundberg said. “You can probably (find a use for) it on a daily basis, anymore.”

Police ask those with cameras to regularly check their footage even if police don’t reach out to them. FDPD is willing to help give technical assistance to camera owners who know their footage has valuable information and are unable to access it themselves.

Those wishing to participate can fill out a registration form on fortdodgeiowa.org. From the home page, click on “Your Government” then “Police Department.” A logo for the Community Camera Program at the bottom of the page directs visitors to a link for the registration form.