CMPD hopes partnership with Ring will help solve crimes faster

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A new partnership between the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and Ring could help officers solve more crimes.

City Council members, CMPD and neighbors discussed the new partnership last week, but will readdress the matter at Monday evening's council meeting.

Thousands of people have Ring doorbell cameras at their homes, and you need the Ring app on your phone to access your doorbell footage.

Recently, CMPD posted a message on the app, saying officers now have access to the neighborhood features, so residents can now share their videos through the app -- voluntarily.

The goal is to solve crimes faster.

[ALSO READ: Curious cow rings doorbell, captured on doorbell camera]

The cameras are activated by motion and the app then notifies homeowners when there is movement near the doorbell. Users pay a monthly fee and the video is recorded and stored.

You can also use the app to watch the camera live and talk to anyone who is in front of it.

Again, the program is voluntary, but the police department can ask for your videos to help solve ongoing investigations.

During Monday night's discussion about the partnership, a citizen expressed concern about CMPD's potential involvement with Amazon, which owns Ring.

"City money is subsidizing the cost of Amazon products in other cities, offsetting the cost by $50 to $100 per unit in some cities," Joseph Margolis said. "I think I'd like to know if the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has gone into business with Amazon under your noses."

CMPD Deputy Chief Stella Patterson, responded, saying the police department does not pay Amazon anything for the program.

"To answer your question, 'Are we in business or are we subsidizing Amazon?' No," Patterson said. "This app is available completely free of charge to residents as well as to law enforcement. And it is an app that the residents have to opt into."

>> Reading this story in our app? The new "Follow the Lead" feature allows you to tap the blue tag indicated with a '+' to subscribe to alerts on the very latest breaking news updates.

Patterson explained how it works.

"It's called the Neighbors Ring app and really, it's a digital neighborhood watch that allows police officers and the public to access information free of charge," Patterson said.

Some council members want to know more about the agreement.

"I am all for tech to be at disposal of police," Councilman Tariq Bokhari said. "I want to make sure it's the consumer that is saying yes you can see this. And it's not some carte blanche ability to say you have full access."

Some are also concerned that the police would know every home with a Ring camera.

The partnership was news to Charlotte City Council. Mayor Vi Lyles admitted she hadn't heard of the Ring or how it works.

Council decided to continue discussion on Monday evening, so they could take time to learn more about the program.

More than 400 law enforcement agencies work with Ring across the country, including police in Shelby, Lincolnton, Cornelius and Mint Hill.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

Cox Media Group