Chatham-Kent police say the expansion of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras across Chatham-Kent is paying off, but more surveillance cameras are needed.
In an information report going before Chatham-Kent Council on Monday night, Police Chief Kirk Earley says the impact has been particularly evident in cases involving missing and vulnerable people, property and vehicle crime, mischief, and public safety incidents.
The chief cited key CCTV program successes including:
Locating several missing individuals, including a vulnerable elderly man found in sub-zero temperatures in Tilbury and a youth who went missing in Dresden.
Identifying numerous vehicles involved in fail to remain collisions.
Capturing a serious assault and robbery, providing vital evidence to assist investigators.
Identifying vehicles and suspects involved in organized crime in Blenheim.
Uncovering vehicles and individuals tied to a major stolen vehicle operation.
Identifying a vehicle involved in an arson in Dresden.
Preventing unnecessary deployment of resources by identifying a report of an active shooter was a false alarm.
Identifying an unknown suspect involved in the assault of a minor in Wallaceburg.
Pinpointing the location of a discarded firearm following a serious incident.
Providing critical vehicle data that enabled investigators to identify a shooting suspect in Chatham.
Recording vital information of a robbery and serious assault in Wheatley.
Identifying robbery suspects and assisted other police agencies in human trafficking investigations.
Identifying and located individuals responsible for a serious arson.
Identifying an offender in a serious assault case.
"Communities across Chatham-Kent have benefited from its implementation, with positive impacts reported in both urban and rural areas. Public response has been overwhelmingly supportive, with residents, businesses, and community stakeholders recognizing the role of CCTV in enhancing safety, deterring criminal activity, and supporting timely police response. The system has proven to be an asset in advancing community policing efforts throughout the municipality," wrote the chief.
However, Chief Earley also noted more CCTV cameras are needed in Erieau, Mitchell's Bay, Kingston Park in Chatham, and Memorial Park in Tilbury.
He said calls for service at Kingston Park have increased by nearly 26 per cent from 2023 to 2024 and will likely continue to increase in 2025 during the summer months.
The chief also cited "a concerning increase" in calls for service at Memorial Park of almost 63 per cent in the first four months of 2025.
Earley said high-traffic seasonal destinations such as Erieau and Mitchell’s Bay should be considered for CCTV installations, noting they are tourism hubs and the need to maintain a secure environment for both residents and visitors.
"There is a growing need to expand CCTV coverage into public areas such as parks, trails, and recreational spaces, where incidents involving mischief, vandalism, and public safety concerns are increasingly reported. These areas are central to community life, and ensuring they remain safe, accessible, and welcoming is a key priority," Chief Earley wrote.
The chief also cited the following problems:
1. Frequent vandalism of municipal infrastructure at Library Park in Wallaceburg along docks and behind the library and suspicious activity and congregation.
2. Complaints of individuals using Thames Grove Conservation Area in Chatham to access nearby houses for theft and suspicious activity and congregation along the riverbank.
3. Frequent vandalism of municipal infrastructure at McGregor Kinsmen Park in Blenheim and suspicious activity and congregation, particularly during the daytime.
CK police will be asking the province again for a grant to expand the CCTV system.
Chatham, Wallaceburg, Ridgetown, Blenheim, Tilbury, Dresden, and Thamesville already have CCTV cameras to deter crime, assist in investigations, and improve response times.
CK police noted it operates a network of 171 fixed CCTV cameras strategically installed across 55 locations throughout the municipality that serve as a "valuable tool" in supporting frontline policing by enhancing situational awareness, improving investigative efficiency, and increasing the ability to respond to incidents in real time.