FAQs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Gwinnett Safe Communities is a collaboration between Gwinnett County Police and community stakeholders who provide access to cameras, license plate readers, and other technologies to assist the Gwinnett County Police Department, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, and other County agencies with responding to emergency situations more efficiently and effectively.
What is the goal of the Gwinnett Safe Communities program?Our goal is to partner with Gwinnett County businesses and residents to provide an increased level of safety within our county. This public-private partnership will allow for faster, more effective responses to emergency situations reported to 911, Fire and Emergency Services, and other County agencies. The program will also address natural disasters, inclement weather, and all critical incidents and emergency situations.
Why is this necessary for our county?As one of the fastest-growing counties in America for several decades, the infrastructure that we develop to support this growth is critical to ensuring Gwinnett County remains the best place to live and work.
What are some benefits of joining this program?Joining Gwinnett Safe Communities benefits the county, your business, and your home in the following ways:
- Receiving/processing information faster to allow for effective responses to emergency situations
- Actionable intelligence when incidents arise
- Upfront incident information that will increase effectiveness of responses
- Enhanced protection for first responders
What types of businesses and organizations will benefit the most from the Gwinnett Safe Communities?
We believe that this program will help to better protect schools, hospitals, hotels, grocery stores, construction and manufacturing facilities, restaurants, and more.
How much will it cost to join this new program?The first step in determining if there are any costs involved is to evaluate your existing equipment. If you have cameras that are compatible with our technology – which includes having a cloud-based video management system – there will be little to no cost for you to get started. However, if you do not have compatible equipment upon initial review, we can explore other methods of connecting to your system if minimum requirements are met. Alternatively, if it is determined that you must upgrade your equipment, our team will be available to help. For your convenience we have compiled a list of vendors who provide equipment that will work with our technology. Each vendor will provide their specific costs according to what you need to purchase.
Will the police department be monitoring everything that goes on in my business, all the time?No. Our solution is not designed to monitor cameras 24/7. Once an incident is reported in proximity to your home or business, we may rely on access to your video management system to gather information specific to that incident. Monitoring only begins when triggered by an incident report.
Will my information be stored anywhere?We value your privacy. An agreement is established at the beginning of the partnership as to whether or not you will allow your live video feed to be recorded during a public safety incident.
Will all of my camera footage be available in the event of an open records request?Only camera footage that is recorded and stored as evidence for an investigation is subject to open records requests.
I’m interested in joining, what are the next steps?You can sign-up in just a few easy steps that are outlined below:
- Check for compatible equipment.
- Once your equipment is set, identify which equipment you’d like to provide access to.
- Click on “Join the Network” to send your information to a department representative.
- Sign the memorandum of understanding that outlines the agreement between the County and you or your business.
- Upload your logo and company information to join the Gwinnett Safe Communities network and register to receive a decal for your home or business.
If I choose to opt out after joining, what’s the process for that?
If you would like to discontinue your participation in the Gwinnett Safe Communities program, please contact the Situational Awareness and Crime Response Center at SafeCommunities@GwinnettCounty.com to get in touch with a County representative.
Who can I speak to if I have more questions?This new technology is developing, and we are frequently updating compatible systems and technical aspects. Our goal is to work directly with businesses and residents to ensure that you can sign up easily and quickly. Please email the Situational Awareness and Crime Response Center with additional questions at SafeCommunities@GwinnettCounty.com.
