BELL COUNTY, Texas — Starting this week, law enforcement's access to video surveillance from the home security company Ring's Neighbor app is changing.
The Amazon-owned company has announced they are changing their policy to stop allowing police departments to request doorbell camera footage from users in the app. They were able to do so in the "Request for Assistance" tool in the app.
Instead, the company wants law enforcement agencies to have a search warrant to access footage from users. Ring didn't say why they were making the change in policy.
6 News talked to the Bell County Sheriff's Department (BCSD) and the Temple Police Department about the change, since oftentimes surveillance footage is used to help in investigations.
In March 2022, Temple PD told the public they were going to be using the popular surveillance Neighbors App by Ring in order to catch criminals. Megan Price, a spokesperson for the police department, said they weren't seeing much success in the app, but rather in the community contact.
"We have found throughout the years of gathering the security footage that going to residents, business owners, that face-to-face interaction with people has been way more successful for us," Price said. "Being able to secure that relevant footage rather than using things like the Ring doorbell in the Neighborhood app."
Lt. Christopher Wilcox with the BCSD agrees with Price. He and his team like getting out in the community to communicate with people who may have usable evidence.
"The change in their policy was simply just a company change for them saying we can't go through their company without a search warrant anymore," Wilcox said. "Doesn't stop us from going individual-to-individual and talking, the way we prefer to do it anyway."
Surveillance footage has become one of the most useful tools in helping law enforcement crack cases and combat crime. That's why Wilcox said they will find ways to get footage if they need it, even if that means getting the warrant Ring now requests.
"Obtaining a written warrant is not going to be any more difficult for us one way or the other," Wilcox added. "Anytime that we can get a video or some sort of footage, it's definitely a point in the right direction for our investigations."
Price said Temple PD still wants residents to know they can still share their footage with them if they want to. In fact, it takes community support and participation to solve crimes.
"Residents can still provide footage that they secure from their ring camera, security cameras in general, if they have it at their home or car, whatever it might be," Price said.
More from 6 News: