On April 19, 2024, the Dallas Police Department (DPD) and Dallas Police Fusion Center introduced CONNECT DALLAS, a new initiative aimed at enhancing public safety in the city.
This collaborative effort between DPD, Fūsus, and the community enables residents, businesses, and organizations to register their cameras through an online portal.
CONNECT DALLAS and its camera registry streamline the process for law enforcement to identify nearby cameras in specific areas during investigations, emergencies, or crisis responses.
Previously, investigators relied heavily on eyewitness accounts and spent significant time gathering crucial information. With the camera registry, private individuals and business owners can voluntarily register their cameras, granting law enforcement access to potential evidence while maintaining privacy.
Registration is quick and simple, taking less than a minute via the secure online portal. It does not grant DPD access to live video streams but allows them to request footage if needed.
There are two participation levels:
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Level 1: Registering cameras informs investigators of their presence and enables them to request footage if necessary. Users will be contacted via email if assistance is required for solving a nearby crime.
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Level 2: Businesses can opt to provide DPD with direct access to their camera feeds in emergencies, using the FūsusCORE device for real-time access with conditional permissions. Owners can choose when and how their cameras are accessible to law enforcement.
Participation in CONNECT DALLAS is expected to improve emergency preparedness and response by facilitating quicker assessment and intervention in criminal activities and emergencies. It also simplifies evidence gathering for investigations.
Users retain the flexibility to unsubscribe, update, or delete their information from the registry at any time.
Only authorized DPD personnel have access to the complete camera registry map within their jurisdiction, ensuring data security and privacy.
For more information on CONNECT DALLAS and how to register a camera, visit connectdallas.org.