Federal funding is now helping expand a growing security camera program in Kent County.
On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, who represents Grand Rapids and surrounding communities, announced a $750,000 federal appropriation for the Kent Safety Network. The program was previously referred to as Connect Kent County and is operated through the Kent County Sheriff’s Office.
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The Kent Safety Network is designed to give deputies access to surveillance footage during active incidents. Schools and businesses can voluntarily choose to provide a live feed of their security cameras directly to the sheriff’s office. If something serious happens, those feeds can be pulled into the department’s Realtime Intelligence Center and viewed alongside dash camera, body camera and drone footage from deputies who are responding.
Sheriff’s officials say the goal is to improve real time awareness and response during emergencies…