The Marietta Police Department announces its new SMILE (Systems in Marietta Intersecting with Law Enforcement) Program - voluntary, confidential and free.
What that means is to build a secure map of surveillance camera systems and private Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) already installed within the city at homes and businesses, according to Police Chief Dan Flynn.
Building on results in crime reduction by 12 percent last year, Flynn said in a city statement, “Encouraged by many positive cards, letters and other expressions of support as well as an increase in tips from citizens, the MPD plans to take our public safety partnerships to the next level in 2019 by harnessing modern security technology.”
Homeowners and business owners will retain all system access, videos and images to their security cameras and ALPRs.
Providing investigators with this new map will reduce time taken by police officers to walk neighborhoods and potentially speed up investigations.
When a crime occurs, investigators can view the new SMILE map to determine which cameras may have captured images of a suspect.
Only accessible to law enforcement personnel, this new map will not have access to any cameras or systems but only will document their locations and the contact information provided by the owner.
Last year, homeowner associations began inquiring of the MPD about private ALPRs for their subdivisions, according to Flynn.
One such system, installed as a trial, was responsible for the apprehension of a wanted felon and the recovery of a stolen vehicle in an ongoing investigation.
Marietta residents and business owners interested in joining the MPD in assembling this crime-fighting map may register at arcg.is/1i9Gy90.
Information: Officer Michael Freer at 770-794-5265 or mfreer@MariettaGa.gov
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