Surveillance Camera Registration & Mapping Program (S.C.R.A.M.)

S.C.R.A.M.

Surveillance Camera Registration & Mapping Program (S.C.R.A.M.) 

Do you currently utilize private video surveillance at your home or business? If you do, we'd like to hear from you.

Video surveillance is one of the best methods for apprehending criminals and convicting suspects who are caught in the act of committing a crime. Installing video surveillance is a great example of community-police partnerships and is something we highly value as a police agency serving our community.


How Does it Work?

The Storm Lake Police Department is committed to our partnership with the residents and business owners in our community. Many business owners and residents currently operate surveillance systems at their businesses and/or homes. As crimes occur nearby, they are not always aware that their system may have captured information that could help solve the crime, thus keeping our community safer. In turn, the police are also not always aware who may have this potentially vital information.

The Police Department is asking residents and businesses across the city to register their privately owned surveillance camera systems. As we respond to criminal incidents, we may be able to use the information or footage gathered from the security cameras to assist in the apprehension and prosecution of the criminals involved.


What are the Benefits of Registering your Camera?

By registering your camera with us, the Department can quickly identify nearby cameras that may have captured criminal activity. After registering your camera, you would only be contacted by the Storm Lake Police Department if there is a criminal incident in the vicinity of your security camera. Police personnel, if necessary, may request to view your camera footage in order to assist in the investigation. Help us make Storm Lake an undesirable place for criminals to commit crime and help keep your entire community safe!

Registration


If you would like to tell us that you have video surveillance and allow Officers to contact you should a crime occur in or near where your cameras are installed, we kindly ask that you let us know by submitting your registration form:


Click here to submit your registration online. 


Click here to download and print a registration form. 


Completed applications can be emailed to bauer@stormlake.org or brought or mailed to:


Storm Lake Police Department

401 E Milwaukee Ave

Storm Lake, IA 50588


Online Surveillance Camera Policy and Terms of Use


Policy: Registration is voluntary and there is no cost associated with registration. Registering your information does not provide SLPD with direct access to your camera. You may delete your registration at any time. An individual’s personal information will be kept confidential by the SLPD unless subject to disclosure by court order. Your information will be accessed by law enforcement personnel who are investigating a crime in the vicinity of where your camera is located. You will only be contacted by the Storm Lake Police Department in the future if there is a criminal incident in the vicinity of your security camera. Police personnel, if necessary, may request a copy of any video captured by your camera, which may assist in the investigation of a crime.


Terms of Use: The goal of the program is to deter crime and promote public safety through collaboration between the Storm Lake Police Department and the community we serve. Accordingly, all registrants agree to the following terms and conditions:

1. Any footage containing or related to criminal activity may be collected by the Storm Lake Police Department for use as evidence during any stage of a criminal proceeding.

2. Under no circumstances shall registrants construe that they are acting as an agent and/or employee of the City of Storm Lake and/or Storm Lake Police Department through the program

3. If necessary, the Storm Lake Police Department will contact you directly, using the information provided on this site, to request the appropriate video surveillance footage.


By submitting this information, I understand and agree to the above policy and terms of use. 


Frequently Asked Questions

Will the department have access to my cameras remotely or be able to view the footage without my knowledge?

No, Officers can only view the footage once a citizen has viewed it and chosen to share it with officers.

Will the department use or share my personal information for anything besides requesting footage?

No, The department will only contact you about your cameras if a crime or incident being investigated occurred near you. Your information will remain confidential.

Am I obligated to sign up for the program or turn over my footage? Do I have to pay a fee to sign up?

The program is 100% free and voluntary, you are not obligated to release footage, even if you sign up for the program. If at any time you decide to no longer be part of the program you can contact the department and your information will be removed from the program.