INDIANAPOLIS — Recently, the city launched B.Link — or Business Link — Indy. This effort leverages technology to connect IMPD with security camera systems owned by residents and businesses to improve police response, further investigations, and deter crime.
Much of the announcement centered around B.Link Pro, which harnesses cloud-based technology to connect professional security camera systems directly with intelligence detectives located at IMPD’s Incident Analysis Center. Through integration and installation partners identified by IMPD, local businesses and organizations can securely share a live stream of video footage with law enforcement. This public-private-community partnership is the first of its kind for Indianapolis, bolstering IMPD’s efforts to effectively respond to and solve crime while improving neighborhood safety and promoting the growth of local businesses.
To protect privacy, live streams from businesses are not monitored by IMPD, but accessed in the event of a call for service or report of a public safety threat, such as a disturbance. The Indy Public Safety Foundation (IPSF) will act as a liaison between IMPD and the business community, serving as the main point of contact to connect potential partners with the resources they need to be part of the B.Link solution. Local organizations and businesses interested in participating in B.Link Pro can express their interest to IPSF at blinkindy.org, with a goal of bringing new partners online in early 2020.
IMPD is currently piloting B.Link Pro with several community and business partners, including Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana and Big Red Liquors. The organizations’ security camera systems have been successfully integrated with the B.Link cloud platform, with video footage from their facilities currently accessible by the Incident Analysis Center.
The B.Link program also features a free crime reduction solution aimed at residents. Through the CrimeReports.com platform, B.Link Indy allows residents to register their private security camera locations, building stronger partnerships between communities and law enforcement in preventing and solving crime. Residents who wish to register their cameras and join the B.Link Indy initiative can do so at blinkindy.org.
Unlike B.Link Pro, cameras registered through B.Link Indy cannot be accessed by law enforcement. Instead, in the event of a crime in the area, detectives can reach out to registered B.Link Indy participants to request footage that may provide information critical to holding the perpetrator accountable. Locations of cameras registered through B.Link are only available to IMPD personnel and registration of a camera does not constitute automatic consent for IMPD to obtain camera footage.
The technology solutions that support B.Link Indy come as part of the City’s $35 million investment in public safety technology infrastructure first announced in 2018. Funded upgrades have included a new Computer-Aided Dispatch, radios, and radio network.
