Marion police asking home, business owners to register surveillance cameras

MARION - Marion police are launching a voluntary program in which homeowners and businesses can register their surveillance cameras to help combat crime in Marion.

Registering a camera with the department does not give the police access to or control over the owners' cameras, according to a news release from the police department.

It does provide police with basic information about the camera's location, owner and length of time a video record is maintained.

The information, police said, would be available only to the department.

Video surveillance plays an ever-increasing role in the solving of crimes, with Cedar Rapids police estimating 80 percent of their investigations include video evidence.

In registering home and commercial security cameras, Marion residents and business owners make it easier for investigators to locate possible footage when a crime occurs and contact the camera's owner to check for relevant footage.

Those interested in registering their camera can go to cityofmarion.org/departments/police-department/general-information and click on the 'security camera registration” link to fill out a registration form.

Cedar Rapids police initiated a similar program earlier this year. As of mid-June, more than 100 residents had registered their home security systems.

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