Ramona Sheriff’s substation plans to increase surveillance capabilities by participating in the Safe Cities Initiative, which increases access to security cameras in homes and businesses.

Ramona Sheriff’s Lt. John Malan shared details about the “Safe Ramona” program, which expands on plans to install automatic license plate readers, at the Nov. 7 Ramona Community Planning Group meeting.

By becoming a “safe city,” Ramona Sheriff’s Office will gain access to residential and business security cameras so that video feeds recorded on their properties can be selectively shared with deputies. Sheriff’s officials say the access allows deputies to “more efficiently respond to calls for service, increase security and combat crime in neighborhoods.”

Ramona has not set a date for the installation of the license plate readers, known as the Flock Falcon ALPR system. Malan said the cameras have been used in local cities since 2009. Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, La Mesa, Oceanside, San Diego and Solana Beach have them, he said, and other cities such as Poway and San Marcos are in the process of implementing them.

The devices include optical character recognition technology to read license plates from up to 65 feet away by a camera mounted on a signal light pole or other existing infrastructure. Readers capture still images of license plates and do not record video or capture footage from inside a vehicle.

Ramona’s show will be called Safe Ramona, sheriff’s officials said. Some of the benefits will include:

• Increasing security and reducing the risk of theft and vandalism in a business or residence
• Faster response to calls for service, suspicious activity and more effective investigative reports
• Fast distribution of information thanks to quick access to video content

Participants can be registered users or private users, Malan said.

Registered users can be residential or commercial establishments that have existing security cameras and choose to enroll in Safe Ramona. The recording will help the Sheriff’s Office locate each participant’s cameras so deputies can request content if needed. It costs nothing to become a registered user.

Malan said having a database of registered users allows deputies to request access to video cameras if a crime occurs.

Privileged users may also be residential or commercial establishments that use a camera system that is compatible with the Sheriff’s Office and allows it to interface with the Sheriff’s system. The federal program will allow an authorized Sheriff’s agent to directly access live video content. Depending on the type of security camera equipment used, there may be a cost to becoming a private user.

If an alarm goes off, deputies can access video footage and view the location in real time, Malan said.

Malan said the cameras will only be placed in “public” areas, not private places like backyards. He said that these audio-video recordings can be kept by law enforcement forces for 30 days, but if a crime occurs, video data can be kept indefinitely until the case is concluded. He added that the content will not be shared with federal agencies.

Malan said the cameras cannot be attached to light poles operated by the state or San Diego Gas & Electric, so they will be placed on county-owned equipment.

Malan said one possible use for the cameras would be to place them on Ramona Unified School District light poles on Hanson Lane to monitor activity in public areas at Olive Peirce Middle School and Ramona High School.

Sheriff’s officials also plan to install security cameras at Eighth and Main streets and 13th and Main streets to monitor Ramona’s main street with a 360-degree view that can be zoomed in and out.

Although the cameras are unobtrusive, Malan said the blue LED bulb lets people know a camera is present. The purpose is not to monitor the cameras 24/7, but to instantly access and collect evidence when a crime or other incident occurs.

“This keeps people in check who are doing things they shouldn’t be doing,” Malan told members of the Planning Group.

Planning Group member Jonas Dyer asked if surveillance equipment could be inside businesses.

Malan said a business is a public place, so deputies could access video footage shot at a private user’s business. Business owners will be able to choose which cameras and how many they have in the federal system, he said, adding that access will not include images inside a home or indoor garden.

Planning Group Chair Casey Lynch said he fully supports Ramona’s participation in the Safe Cities Initiative.

“This is another helpful tool to keep our community safe,” Lynch said. “It’s pretty simple; “Do not commit a crime.”

Malan said he would inform the Planning Group when the cameras are installed and asked members to share their views as the program continues. He said the Ramona Sheriff’s substation is also asking community members to share comments supporting or opposing these plans.

“If anyone has a concern, let me know and I will escalate it up the chain of command so it can be resolved,” he said.

For more information, call the Sheriff’s Ramona substation at 760-789-9157.