PARK FOREST, IL - The Park Forest Police Department of Illinois announced a program to its residents earlier this year that would provide rebates to residents and business owners who purchase and install security camera systems on their properties. According to a September 7th report by eNews Park Forest, Police Chief Brian Rzyski announced the program’s extension for another year.

The program offers a 50% rebate, capped at $200, on the purchase of security cameras, aiming to fortify community safety and deter criminal activity. Eligible cameras must be front-facing, weatherproof, and equipped with a minimum 7-day video storage capacity.

This initiative also facilitates collaboration between law enforcement and residents. In the wake of incidents and crimes, police actively canvass neighborhoods to identify homes with cameras, utilizing homeowners' video footage to aid investigations. Chief Rzyski reports positive outcomes from this strategy, noting that homeowners generally demonstrate strong cooperation in supporting police efforts to assist with keeping their community safe.

Since its inception on April 15, the program has successfully engaged twenty residents, highlighting the growing community interest and support. The Police Department's initial funding of $20,000 for the previous fiscal year was a strategic investment aimed at fostering community relations and enhancing public safety. With an additional $20,000 allocated for the current year, the program now has the potential to accommodate over 100 participants.

Program participants fully control their camera and video. Police cannot access live video or stored video without permission from the homeowner. If an incident happens, the police will reach out to the participants to check for relevant video. Residents can often email video to the police. The police do not keep any records of usernames or passwords for the video storage.

If the owner installs the camera themselves, police will check it to make sure it meets program rules. Each household or business will have one camera covered by the program’s rebate. The cost of the camera is covered by the program, but it does not include installation or video storage fees.

Park Forest Police Extends Security Camera Rebate Program

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