Atlantic County Sheriff Eric Scheffler.
NORTHFIELD – Although the COVID-19 pandemic has canceled National Night Out events all over the country, the annual celebration that enhances relationships between the community and law enforcement will be held Tuesday, Aug. 4 in a virtual commuity event, Atlantic County Sheriff Eric Scheffler said in a release.
Sheffler has announced a special partnership with Ring, Inc., the home security and smart home company that incorporates outdoor motion-detecting cameras including the Ring Video Doorbell, to keep Atlantic County safe and make it safer.
“National Night Out is our annual celebration of our police and communities coming together to promote safety in our neighborhoods,” Scheffler said. “While we physically cannot gather together this year, it is very important to recognize and celebrate our police/community connection. This partnership with Ring is a great example of how we can come together as one to keep our neighborhoods safe.”
The Neighbors initiative, which Scheffler has dubbed a “digital neighborhood watch program,” uses a portal created by Ring for the community that links Ring surveillance videos, including those who do not have Ring technology. Participants can upload videos from any system, including phones, to share information.
“It’s great because even if you don’t have a Ring camera, you can be part of the safety network and join the program as a member, which is absolutely free,” he said.
The Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office will work in conjunction with area municipalities to monitor neighborhoods on a daily basis to look for crime trends and investigate problem areas. The program also works in reverse so that if a partner agency like the Office of the Atlantic County Prosecutor is seeking information, such as for a string of burglaries on a specific street, the Sheriff’s Office can put out a request on the portal seeking information and videos from the community.
“The bottom line is we believe this technology will solve more crimes and make neighborhoods safer,” Scheffler said.
Anyone who joins the Ring community will remain anonymous, even to law enforcement.
Scheffler will also use the system to share other crime prevention awareness topics, ranging from staying safe while jogging, to banking security.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of the families in Atlantic County,” Scheffler said. “I’m proud to have secured this partnership with Ring so our police can join with the residents of Atlantic County in protecting our families.”
To join the Ring Neighbors “digital neighborhood watch program,” go to Community.Ring.com or download the free Ring Neighbors app on your smart phone or tablet. Users can link their Ring camera or upload video from any device to be part of the community safe initiative.
In addition to the Ring initiative, Scheffler is launching a series of crime prevention lectures to help make Atlantic County safer.
To schedule a no cost talk with the Sheriff at your next socially-distanced event, contact Chief Warrant Officer Tim Reed at 609-909-7200 or email ReedTimothy@aclink.org.
