Police department launches community camera-sharing program

Montgomery County Chief of Police Marc Yamada has officially announced the launch of MoCoConnect, the Montgomery County Police Department’s community camera-sharing program.

Modeled after similar programs in Washington, DC, Anne Arundel, and Prince George’s County, as well as many others nationally, this program is a collaboration between Montgomery County Police and Fusus by Axon. MoCoConnect allows private citizens to register home security cameras, letting the department know they have a camera system and are willing to be contacted by police in the event of a nearby crime. Additionally, it allows for camera integration, where businesses can share live video with the department in real time.

In announcing this program, Chief Yamada said, “The department is always looking for ways to work collaboratively with the community to prevent, detect, and deter crime. This is a great way for members of the public, business community, and residents alike to be active participants in keeping our communities safe.”

He continued, “Police officers who are better informed make smarter and more efficient decisions. As we continue to face unprecedented staffing shortfalls, leveraging technology and community partnerships is essential to ensure that the Montgomery County Police Department can provide the highest quality services possible.”

Although the program will be available to all officers, it will primarily be used by the Violent Crime Information Center and investigators for use in criminal events, and the Managed Search Operations Team officers as they try to locate missing persons.

Acting Assistant Chief David McBain said, “This program is not about violating individual privacy or being a ‘big brother.’ No one will be required to share anything with us unless they want to. It’s no different than a business giving us a login account to see their cameras. It just lets us do it easier—with more protections and control over what we are allowed to view and when we can see it. There are a lot of people in our communities, especially our religious communities, who are concerned—they want to be able to be part of the solution to protect their communities.”

There is no charge to register a camera and it only requires the completion of a short online form. To integrate cameras, there is an associated cost. However, there may be assistance available depending on the nature of the site and its location.

For more information on the MoCoConnect program, including how to participate, visit www.mococonnect.org or contact the Violent Crime Information Center at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..