Cameras aid police investigations

MARENGO — As small, rural communities struggle to keep police officers on patrol, technology becomes important for investigating crimes.

Marengo police began installing security cameras in public places in September, and the cameras have already produced results.

“I’ve been trying to work on something like this for the last couple of years,” said Marengo Police Chief Ben Gray. With the challenges of staffing, he had to think outside the box for investigating crimes.

Cameras are the natural answer, said Gray. Officers can view recordings from the cameras if they can’t get to the scene while the violation is in progress.

“That’s the first place we go [for] evidence,” said Gray. Stores already have cameras, and some residents use electronic devices to surveil their own properties.

The next logical step is to install cameras to keep an eye on public property.

The camera project is ongoing, Gray said. The cameras are paid for out of capital expenditures. The project, when complete, will cost a total of about $40,000, he said.

The city saves money on installation and transportation when multiple locations are installed at the same time.

“We have cameras at the city park across from city hall,” said Gray. “Every city building has cameras.”

Gray has spoken with the director of Iowa County Conservation to work on camera solutions at Gateway Park, which is in Marengo but is under the jurisdiction of Iowa County Conservation.

Gray plans to place cameras at the four entrances in town. “Those will give us an ability to have record of all vehicles coming in and out of town.”

In case of a theft at a local business, police can “do a deep search” for a vehicle of a certain color. In the case of a crime in the park, police can look specifically for a certain color jacket during a specific time frame, Gray said.

“We’ve solved two crimes with the cameras that were already installed. They’ve already shown a success rate.”

Gray is hoping to partner with businesses in town to save some money for the city. The cameras need electricity and internet to work. If businesses give the city access to their internet, police will allow the businesses to view the images they capture.

Both entities benefit, Gray said. Cameras benefit the city, but they also benefit business owners and property owners, he said.

“Right now, we’re trying to do it ourselves,” said Gray. “We’re not trying to burden a business owner with a cost. But if there’s benefit for both of us, how do we make that benefit work for both of us?”

Twenty cameras are active in Marengo right now, said Gray. The city will be adding three to the external areas of the library in the next few weeks.

Business owners interested in partnering with the city in its camera project. should contact the police department