BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethlehem Police will look to combat crime by taking part in a joint video- and data-sharing effort with other Lehigh County and state entities.
Bethlehem City Council unanimously approval the measure Tuesday.
- Bethlehem Police Department will join 17 other agencies in a video-sharing effort
- Police Chief Michelle Kott has said it will improve department investigations and efficiency
- Residents and business owners can also opt in to share video with written consent
Police Chief Michelle Kott recently wrote in an Aug. 10 memo to council that a potential agreement between BPD and the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office would bolster the department “to efficiently respond to emergency situations and investigate crime.”
“FUSUS is a simple, but powerful digital platform that enables the sharing of video and data assets by participating law enforcement agencies."Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott, in a memo to council
“FUSUS is a simple, but powerful digital platform that enables the sharing of video and data assets by participating law enforcement agencies,” Kott wrote.
Fusus, “a real-time crime center in the Cloud,” on its website states that there are no activation fees associated with the device’s setup.
Once plugged into the existing camera or network, the video feed is analyzed, “securely encrypted” and can be accessed via livestream or on-demand if alerted, the site reads.
Sharing camera access
Deputy Police Chief Scott Meixell said the DA’s office also would allow the sharing of Northampton County camera access in the agreement.
He said investigations are a process, sometimes involving multiple agencies and jurisdictions. In this case, there already are 17 other agencies signed on to take part.
“This is all investigative data that’s being provided, from us to other departments and then vice-versa to us,” Meixell stated. “Other departments can’t share our cameras; they’d have to come here, and we’d vet and see what’s going on.”
“The need is that success of investigations or investigating incidents of missing persons or anything, is the speed at which you can access the information. … Being able to do that in the now, rather than a week from now, just helps the successful resolution of many things.”Bethlehem Deputy Police Chief Scott Meixell
He stressed that the video-sharing capabilities can be used for solving more than just crime, referencing a hypothetical situation where an elderly person goes missing.
Meixell said the agreement could help in determining that person’s location patterns within the city, keep track of their vehicle and much more.
“The need is that success of investigations or investigating incidents of missing persons or anything, is the speed at which you can access the information,” Meixell said.
"Being able to do that in the now, rather than a week from now, just helps the successful resolution of many things.”
Residents, businesses can take part
The deputy chief said the effort would come with “no surprises,” letting local businesses or residents opt in with written consent.
“They can make [investigations] even quicker by sharing their video, but it’s all completely voluntary by the citizen or business,” Meixell said.
“They can make [investigations] even quicker by sharing their video, but it’s all completely voluntary by the citizen or business."Bethlehem Deputy Police Chief Scott Meixell
Camera systems also would require a device to be physically plugged in before any video would be shared, according to Meixell.
He said Lehigh County buys a set amount of those devices, so some businesses eventually would have to invest in those before participating.
City solicitor John Spirk Jr. clarified that if any person handling the evidence were to wrongly share or misuse it, there could be consequences at the department and state level.
