City of Fort Dodge, Iowa

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Community Camera Program

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 Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge 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 fdpd@fortdodgeiowa.org or brought or mailed to:

Fort Dodge Police Department

702 1st Ave. S.

Fort Dodge, IA  50501

Information provided to the Fort Dodge Police Department regarding your camera systems will be for official use only. The personal information that you share with the department will remain confidential as your registration in the Community Camera Program is a confidential record pursuant to Iowa Code 22.7(18).

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.