LABELLE — The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office (HSCO) invites local businesses and citizens of Hendry County who have external home or business video surveillance systems to participate in a crime solving partnership project known as V.O.I.C.E. (Video Identification Community Effort). V.O.I.C.E. will be a voluntary partnership where participants can change their involvement at any time. The program is scheduled to kick off on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021.

“Video surveillance systems are becoming more common as technology improves and the price becomes more affordable. As a result, more criminal cases are solved after surveillance video captured the suspect(s) in the act,” explained the HCSO. “The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help from residents and business owners to create a new resource for deputies. This resource will allow deputies to more quickly identify external video camera locations where suspect information may have been captured. If a crime happens, a deputy can quickly check for an external video surveillance system in the vicinity of the crime. A member of the Sheriff’s Office may contact that resident or business owner and ask them to review their video footage to see if anything was captured that may help with the case.

“The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office will attempt to maintain the confidentiality of any records associated with your involvement in this program as well as the confidentiality of your video itself; however, the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office cannot guarantee that this information will not be subpoenaed by a court for use in a criminal or civil hearing,” the HCSO further explained. “In addition, you may be subpoenaed to a court proceeding in which your video is used to provide testimony concerning your surveillance system. The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office cannot guarantee the confidentiality of any records associated with this program.”

If you are a Hendry County resident or business owner with an external video surveillance system, and would like to participate in the Community Video Watch partnership, you may contact Crime Prevention Officer Roy Franco by email at rfranco@hendrysheriff.org or by phone at 863-517-8018.