'It's the Neighborhood Watch of 2020,' police say as doorbell cams proliferate

Less than five hours.

That’s all it took Livonia Police to arrest a man, who hours earlier was caught on video posted on Ring’s Neighbors app rummaging through the bed of a pickup parked in a driveway.

Livonia detectives quickly recognized 60-year-old Jeffrey Couch when they saw the video posted by an app user in mid-August. Within a week, he pleaded no contest in court to two attempted larceny charges and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

“I truly believe this is the Neighborhood Watch of 2020,” said Livonia Police Capt. Ronald Taig, whose force was one of the first law enforcement agencies in Michigan — and is one of more than 400 across the country — to partner with the Ring Neighbors app, owned by Amazon.

Recognizing the growing proliferation of home security cameras — in doorbells, on floodlights and porches and at back doors — many law enforcement agencies are jumping on the latest tech bandwagon to spot possible crime trends, share safety information and request videos from app users in an effort to stave off and solve crimes.

But Amazon's Ring app (and others like it) and the idea of law enforcement joining the “real-time crime and safety alerts” community is raising concerns about privacy, profiling, less than transparent public-private partnerships and what critics see is another step closer to a Big Brother police state.

Among the worries of some critics is video captured by Ring and other security systems being stored online by Amazon and other companies, adding to the mass of personal information being collected from all of us.

“If people (want to) have alarm systems, that’s fine. A centrally-connected alarm system beyond property and on driveways and streets into Amazon’s cloud, that’s different than on your property or door,” said Chris Gilliard, a Macomb Community College professor.

Gilliard has been critical of Amazon and Ring, but is aware of some of the advantages of assistance to police.

“Part of where my concern starts is the secretive way this all came about. Amazon did not (initially) tell the number of police across the country they’ve partnered with. That’s no way a public service should operate," he said.

Earlier this month, more than 30 civil rights groups in the U.S. signed a letter with concerns, saying the police partnerships "exemplify the company's willingness to do what it takes to expand their data empire ... Amazon Ring partnerships with police departments threaten civil liberties, privacy and civil rights, and exist without oversight or accountability."

In the letter, the groups claim the partnerships "pose a serious threat to civil rights and liberties, especially for black and brown communities already targeted and surveilled by law enforcement."

Ring disputes many of the claims in the letter, saying its mission is to help make neighborhoods safer, including the free app tool that connects communities and their local law enforcement agencies.

"We have taken care to design these features in a way that keeps users in control and protects their privacy. The Neighbors app has strict community guidelines, trained moderators, user flagging capabilities and other tools in place to create a safe place for all members of the community to talk about what’s happening in their neighborhoods,” Ring said in a statement.

"All content submitted to our app is reviewed to ensure that it adheres to our community guidelines, including our policies against racial profiling and prohibiting hate speech or other forms of prejudice before it goes live on the platform. We take this very seriously and have invested many resources, tools, and human power to ensure we uphold a standard of trust and civility," the statement said.

Michael Siegel of Detroit is a proponent, having multiple Ring cameras at his west-side home. He bought them "to give me peace of mind" and for "deterrence."

His cameras caught a man who came up his driveway and checked out his vehicle. He said the man looked right at a camera and stared at it.

"It was amazing that he didn't care," Siegel said, but added that he believes the cameras are helpful and beneficial.

Siegel said he doesn't have concerns about the police partnership, saying his only issue would be "if they had the ability to tap into your home private network."

More:How doorbell cams are creating dilemmas for police, neighborhoods

'We all wanna live in Mayberry, but we don't'

More than 400 law enforcement agencies across the country have joined the app as partners, including about 20 in Michigan — all in the Lower Peninsula — from Kentwood and Kalamazoo to Grand Blanc and St. Clair.

In August, Ring released a map showing law enforcement partners across the country. The map appears to be updated, with more than a dozen of Michigan's police partners in metro Detroit including Livonia, Ferndale, Troy, Auburn Hills and Clinton Township. Others police departments, such as Birmingham and Sterling Heights, have discussed using the app or are making further inquiries about it.

Gilliard said he wasn't aware of any law enforcement agencies across the country that have said no to participating, but a few haven't said yes — yet.

Ring launched the Neighbors app in May 2018, and anyone can download and use it,  whether or not they have a security system. Law enforcement can join, too, and view comments or video that users post inside and outside their jurisdiction.

A look earlier this month at what Taig saw in Livonia showed a video that indicated an unknown man backed into someone's driveway, then went into the yard for an unknown reason and was talking on a cellphone. More than a dozen other situations in the city posted by users were listed as "suspicious," "unknown visitor" and "crime."

Users are identified as Neighbor No., not with a name or exact address. Law enforcement can post alerts and submit video requests to users in their jurisdiction.

Law enforcement goes through Ring to make a video request and must reference a relevant case and videos within a limited time and area. Ring doesn't provide information about users unless a user chooses to share video with police. Then, the user's email and address are disclosed.

Users can say no and opt out of future requests. Police said they don't have direct access to a user's cameras or system.

The Free Press couldn't find any examples of law enforcement using a warrant to obtain video from this partnership, but would likely have the legal right to do so. Authorities can use warrants, for example, to obtain cellphone records, other types of videos and to search computers.

CNET, an online news site covering tech, culture and science, had an article in June that discussed a post by Houston Police and a Ring doorbell camera giveaway that the department posted on NextDoor, another social network for neighborhoods. Among the requirements to win a free Ring doorbell camera, were signing up for the Ring video recording plan for $30 a year or $3 a month and allowing "HPD to access the cameras when a crime occurs when we request it."

According to the CNET article, "Ring said that it doesn't support this model and that it was reaching out to police partners to make sure this wasn't a requirement for Ring giveaways."

Locally, Livonia Police was giving away Ring doorbell cameras monthly while supplies lasted. Some other departments in the region said they do not participate in such giveaways.

The Free Press asked Ring that, if deemed necessary, can law enforcement obtain video they believe Ring may have from an user for an investigation.

"Ring will not disclose user videos to law enforcement unless the user expressly consents or if disclosure is required by law, such as to comply with a warrant," Ring said in a statement. "Ring objects to overbroad or otherwise inappropriate legal demands as a matter of course."

Here's how some departments in metro Detroit are using the app:

The Detroit Police Department is listed on the map. It signed an agreement, which was executed in May, “but that doesn’t mean the officers have the authority to use it.” Deputy Chief Grant Ha said.

Ha said while some people have been trained on how to use the app, the department is developing policies and standard operating procedures. Ha said once the policies and procedures have been completed, possibly this year, they will have to be reviewed by himself, the chief and the Board of Police Commissioners.

Ha said the app may be used for serious crimes, such as murder and arson, and may be restricted to those who work in certain units or bureaus, such as homicide. He said it could bring “an additional investigative tool to communicate with the neighbors on crimes and safety, put a finger on it in real time.”

More:Detroit police oversight board approves controversial facial recognition policy

When asked whether an image on a video obtained through the app may be tied into facial recognition technology, Ha said it would depend on whether there is a clear enough image on whatever video is posted if that still shot could be taken for facial recognition analysis.

He said it would be no different than seeing something on Facebook — if it’s a particular crime and the image is of a good enough resolution — to analyze.

“It not the investigative tool, but an investigative tool,” Ha said.

Ferndale Police starting using the app in mid-September and put out a request for information about a rash of larcenies from several dozen unlocked vehicles. The department received a few responses, but none proved fruitful, Sgt. Baron Brown said.

But, one time, it may.

“We get the environment in which we operate. We’re very careful to live up to the expectations of our community,” Brown said. “We are not gonna use it willy-nilly in a Big Brother aspect. We’re really gonna use it carefully.”

“I get people are worried and I understand that, and we operate kinda keeping them in mind," he said. "But we need to use modern technology to do our job.”

Brown said only he, the detective lieutenant and the captain are allowed to use the app and only in the “most serious situation.”

One example, had it been available then to Ferndale Police, was the disappearance and murder of Ferndale mom Lily Camara in July. Police could have asked users to check for video in that unsolved case. Perhaps it would have garnered video of Camara leaving her house and with whom, if she returned, a vehicle description — even her demeanor.

More:Police release video showing person of interest in killing of Ferndale mom

“We don’t know, that’s the thing. That’s why we’re using this technology,” Brown said. “It might have given us this type of information. It might give us more information to prevent something like this.”

“We all wanna live in Mayberry,” he said, “but we don’t.”

Troy Police Sgt. Meghan Lehman said the department is using the app, but “not very aggressively." 

"This is just another tool for us," she said. "Like we use social media, but it’s a very specific group.”

Lehman said the department requested video footage related to a home invasion after a person broke into a house at night, touched a sleeping female resident, walked around the house and left. It put out a message to all residents in that particular neighborhood who are on the Neighbors app, she said, but it had not led to an arrest.

Like Ferndale, only a handful of people within Troy Police can use the app, Lehman said.

“I totally understand people’s concerns” over the Big Brother fears, Lehman said. She also understands what is considered “one person’s suspicious (person) could be another person’s meter reader.”

Lehman said a con of the app is that people could misunderstand police are actively monitoring this, “which we’re not. If we were monitoring people’s cameras and had access to people’s cameras that would be different.”

More:Metro Detroit police use social media to show off their fun side

Auburn Hills Police have been using the app for three or four months after City Council approved the partnership, Lt. Ryan Gagnon said. He said users can cooperate if they have something or ask to opt out of police contacting them.

Gagnon said the department has used the app less than a handful of times, such as putting out a request for video to a specific geographic location after an unusual daytime home invasion in which items were taken.

“We haven’t yet had a case we solved — a case or a package theft,” he said. “We’re hoping there’s times it may solve something.”

Gagnon said the department is aware people may be apprehensive and understands their concerns. Like other departments, usage is limited on the force.

He said eight people out of 52 sworn officers have access to post messages, most of them investigators and lieutenants. Messages requesting video have been focused on areas of the city where the crime occurred.

More:Pornographic video plays on I-75 billboard in Auburn Hills, police searching for suspects

Clinton Township Police Detective Jay Anderson said the department started participating in late summer and has used the app several times, such as when an elderly woman was the victim of fraud. Responses haven't solved any crimes yet.

Anderson said he and two others in the department, all affiliated with the detective bureau, may review and post communications via the app, which is checked daily. For example, if he notices a lot of vehicle break-ins in an area, but only one police report filed, he can reach out to other possible victims to contact police.

Anderson said he can’t demand video, only request it; and people can choose not to help. If he receives help, he said, it might give him a head start on an investigation.

“Some people don’t think something small is big enough to talk with the police about,” he said. “This is like a different Facebook in my opinion. All I’m reviewing is the stuff the community is providing to me.”

At the Livonia Police Department, Taig said, the partnership has been “nothing but successful for us,” leading to multiple arrests from people sharing video, such as of people stealing packages. He and two command officers running the detective bureau check and post on the app.

Taig said he likes to interact with app users, and he doesn’t believe it feeds into the idea of people thinking there's more crime in a community than is actually occurring, as some critics have charged. He said no one is forced to buy and use such cameras.

“At the end of the day, as far as I look at it, if I’m a crime victim, there’s at least a chance to get this person because we have them on video,” he said. “It’s probably not for everybody.”

In Sterling Heights, Lt. Mario Bastianelli said the department hasn’t proceeded because of other projects, such as building renovations.

Birmingham Police Commander Scott Grewe said officials had a webinar about the app, but “it’s really in its infancy” and they are “just looking at it right now.”

Grewe said the department has used footage provided by cooperative residents in the past if officers reached out, and it’s had “some success,” but not all the time.

“Just because you have a picture doesn’t mean it’s easy to find out who they are,” he said.

'There is a big brother aspect to it'

Peter Henning, a Wayne State University professor and former federal prosecutor, said Ring “plays on people’s fears about home security and so partnering with the police is smart for them. It sends a message we’re here to help, and certainly for the police, anytime they can get video, it’s helpful to them.”

Henning said most citizens will want to provide video because they want to help the police.

The pro for law enforcement is they get access to real-time evidence, he said, “and that’s the greatest benefit to them. They can use that to identify a potential suspect.”

“The con,” Henning said, “is that there’s a certain loss of privacy (for the homeowner). I don’t have to provide it to the police, but if I choose to, I could be called to testify at a trial. This is evidence. But in court, it has to be verified. … That could involve individuals in the criminal process much more than they might have ever expected.”

Henning added: “There is a Big Brother aspect to it. Do we want everything out there? And do I want to get caught up in a case?”

He said that police cannot demand the video — unless they have a warrant.

But the 30-plus groups critical of the partnership believe Amazon's technology creates "a seamless and easily automated experience for police to request and access footage without a warrant, and then store it indefinitely," according to their letter.

They state that they believe the footage could be used by law enforcement to conduct facial recognition searches, target protesters exercising their First Amendment rights or share with other agencies, such as ICE or the FBI. They are calling on mayors and city councils to require police to cancel existing partnerships and pass surveillance oversight ordinances.

The groups also claim that Amazon scripts what authorities say and coaches police on talking points to get users to hand over footage.

Ring, in a statement, said this is inaccurate; and that it does not script what law enforcement says.

"We provide them with materials and information about our products and services to help ensure they are accurately represented to the public, but we do not require them to use that information," according to the statement.

"Ring also does not require or force police to promote our products, nor do we dictate what police should say regarding Ring and Neighbors app. The claim that we coach police in order to get customers to hand over their footage is false. Customers choose whether or not they want to share footage" it states.

More:14 Michigan police departments are watching neighborhoods through home cameras

Samer Naim Jadallah, an attorney who represented  Couch in the Livonia case, said once suspects are presented with any video footage of them committing a crime “they become speechless and want to resolve the matter.”

However, he said, attorneys have also used camera footage to exonerate people, too.

Jadallah said that he has found that citizens in the region are volunteering if they have video and saw something that might be helpful to police. He said he can see the app being a useful resource to help police.

In his experience, he said, very seldom have police harassed a neighbor for video.

Jadallah said of the 20 houses on his block in Dearborn, more than half have security camera systems.

He said he could see problems if cameras capture a moment without context. For example, a couple wrestling for fun and caught on a neighbor's camera, and police being called to the home for domestic violence.

“I tell all my clients, we are in a world right now, there is a potential of being watched 24 hours a day,” he said. “Sometimes when you think you're in the privacy of your property, you’re not.”

Robert Sedler, a constitutional law professor at Wayne State University, said that when people are out in public, they should expect their actions can be viewed by others.

He said that he’s not troubled by video cameras that observe people in public, saying “it’s in the open.” For example, he said, if police set up a video camera to observe speeders, that’s not a problem.

He said he, unlike a lot of civil libertarians, supports the police “as long as they operate within established rules.”

However, Sedler said, “we have a right to be secure in our homes."

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter.