The Ramona Sheriff’s substation plans to step up its surveillance capabilities by joining a Safe Cities Initiative that increases access to security cameras at homes and businesses.

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

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

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

The devices contain optical character recognition technology to read license plates as far as 65 feet away by a camera that is mounted on a signal light pole or other existing infrastructure. The readers capture still images of license plates and do not record video or capture images inside a vehicle.

Ramonas program would be called Safe Ramona, sheriffs officials said. Some of the benefits would include:

Increased safety and reduced risk of theft and vandalism to a business or residence Quicker response to calls for service, suspicious activity, and more efficient investigative reports Rapid distribution of information through quick access to video content

Participants can become either registered users or exclusive users, Malan said.

Registered users can be residential or commercial entities that have existing security cameras and choose to register with Safe Ramona. The registry will help the Sheriff’s Office identify the the location of each participants cameras so deputies can ask for content if the need arises. There is no cost to become a registered user.

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

Exclusive users can also be residential or commercial entities who use a camera system that is compatible with the Sheriff’s Office, enabling it to interface with the Sheriff’s system. The federated program would allow an authorized Sheriff’s representative direct access to their live video content. There may be a cost to be an exclusive user depending on the type of security camera equipment used.

If an alarm sounds, Malan said deputies can have access to the video footage and view the location in real-time.

The cameras would only be located in “public facing” areas, not in private locations such as backyards, Malan said. These audio-video recordings could be kept for 30 days by law enforcement officials, but if a crime occurs, the video data could be kept indefinitely until the litigation is complete, he said. The content would not be shared with federal agencies, he added.

The cameras cannot be connected to light poles operated by the state or San Diego Gas & Electric so they would be positioned on county-owned equipment, Malan said.

Ramona Sheriffs officials say surveillance cameras could be stationed 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. (Julie Gallant)

One potential use of the cameras would be to station 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, Malan said.

Sheriff’s officials are also planning to station surveillance cameras at Eighth and Main streets and at 13th and Main streets to monitor Ramona’s main thoroughfare with a 360-degree view that can be zoomed in or out.

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

“It keeps people who are doing what they aren’t supposed to be doing in check,” Malan told the Planning Group members.

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

Malan replied that a business is a public place so deputies could access video footage taken inside a business of an exclusive user. Business owners can choose which cameras and how many are on the federated system, he said, adding that access would not include footage inside a house or enclosed yard.

Planning Group Chairman Casey Lynch said he is in full support of Ramona’s participation in the Safe Cities Initiative.

“This is another useful tool to keep our community safe,” Lynch said. “It’s pretty simple – don’t commit a crime.”

Malan said he will update the Planning Group when the cameras are installed, and asked the members to share their input as the program continues. He said the Ramona Sheriff’s substation is also asking community members to share their comments, either in support or against these plans.

“If anyone has concerns, let me know and I will run that up the chain of command so that can be addressed,” he said.

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