In an effort to help law enforcement, Maryland’s Montgomery County is considering a program that would make installing security cameras more affordable.
A bill before the County Council would create a security camera incentive program within Montgomery County鈥檚 Police Department.
Rebates or vouchers would be offered to residents and businesses to help cover the cost of buying a private security camera.
鈥淰iolent crime has increased both locally and nationally, but we can utilize camera technology to help solve these crimes,鈥� said Council member Craig Rice, one of the bill鈥檚 sponsors, in a statement.
鈥淧olice recently used security camera footage to help solve a tragic murder in Germantown. By making security cameras available to members of the community who might not otherwise be able to afford them, we are empowering our residents to help make our communities safer.鈥�
Police would maintain a record of the cameras registered through the program, and they would determine 鈥減riority areas鈥� that would benefit most from such a program.
Montgomery County鈥檚 proposal is similar to Police there made nine arrests in the 2021 fiscal year, the county said, thanks in part to video footage from participants鈥� security cameras. These include seven arrests in murder cases and an arrest in a sexual assault case.
A public hearing on the bill is set for July 12.
Council President Gabe Albornoz called the bill 鈥渁n important step forward鈥� to address rising crime and violence 鈥渢hat we鈥檙e seeing here and across this country.”
Council member Will Jawando asked to be added as a co-sponsor on the bill. He said small business owners in Silver Spring had installed security cameras at their own expense and told his colleagues on the council, 鈥淚 think this is an important strategy to make sure we know what鈥檚 happening鈥� in a community, “and that people are safe.鈥�
