Community Camera Program

Surveilance Camera

The presence of a home or business outdoor video surveillance system is a warning to prowling criminals that they are being monitored and recorded. While video surveillance may deter criminals from breaching your safety, it is also helpful in investigating crimes that may happen in your neighborhood.  

The St. Charles County Police Department is committed to the safety and protection of our citizens. We are asking residents and businesses, across our jurisdiction, to assist us in safeguarding their communities by registering their privately owned video surveillance systems with our new Community Camera Program.


How Does the Program Work?

When crimes occur, video surveillance systems sometimes record information that can generate strong leads and vital information for our investigators. The program registration list will help investigators determine whether any homes or businesses in the area of the crime have video surveillance footage. Participants in the Community Camera Program would save precious time for law enforcement, and this footage could lead to the apprehension and prosecution of the involved criminals.

Registration in the program does not give the St. Charles County Police Department any direct access to your surveillance equipment. Registration also does not obligate you to agree to share video surveillance with investigators. It is a time-saving resource to help St. Charles County Police investigators be aware of surveillance systems in the area.

Benefits of Registering

By registering your privately owned video surveillance system with our department, investigators can quickly identify nearby cameras that may have captured criminal activity. Following registration, you would only be contacted by the St. Charles County Police Department if there is a criminal incident in the vicinity of your home or business. Police personnel may request to view your surveillance system footage to assist in the investigation.

Help us keep St. Charles County a great place to live, grow and work. Join the Community Camera Program today!

Download Online Registration Form (PDF)

Terms and Conditions 

If you choose to participate in the program, a crime(s) occurs in your area, and investigators believe your video surveillance may be helpful for investigation of the crime(s), the St. Charles County Police Department will contact you directly, using the information provided by you at the time of registration, to request the appropriate video surveillance footage. Any and all video surveillance footage shall remain the property of the registrant until it is requested by and collected from the registrant by the St. Charles County Police Department. Your voluntary participation in this program shall not be construed as an obligation to release any surveillance video to the St. Charles County Police Department. Any footage containing or related to criminal activity collected by the St. Charles County Police Department may be used as evidence during any stage of a criminal proceeding. Under no circumstances shall registrants construe that they are acting as an agent and/or employee of St. Charles County Government and/or the St. Charles County Police Department through the program. Under no circumstances shall the St. Charles County Police Department utilize any information obtained to view footage/feeds directly from cameras owned by registrants. The information you provide regarding your video surveillance system will be for official use only but may be subject to Open Records requests as required by law.