The Caroline County Sheriff’s Office announces that Safe Exchange Zones are completed and ready for public use, one located at the Sheriff’s Office in Bowling Green, and the other at the Visitor’s Center in Carmel Church. Both are under 24-hour video surveillance, giving residents and commuters a safe place to purchase or exchange property from popular sites such as Craigslist and Facebook. In addition to online purchases, families may use the Exchange Zone for child custody arrangements.
The CCSO successfully applied for a Department of Justice Services grant that funded the purchase and installation of two high-definition camera systems. Their E-911 Dispatch center has the capability to “live view” activity at both locations. The 24/7 video will be retained for up to three weeks.
“It is our desire to eventually provide Safe Exchange Zones in other parts of the county as well,” Sheriff Tony Lippa said.
The Safe Exchange Zones will provide additional safety and security to local residents without adding to the staff’s current workload. Should a crime takes place during the attempted exchange, the Sheriff’s Office would have high-definition video of the encounter. This evidence would likely prove to be invaluable in investigating and prosecuting the crime.
“More to the point, it is our hope that anyone considering using Craigslist for the purpose of purporting a crime in Caroline, would choose not to do so because of the video surveillance,” Lippa said.
Safe Exchange Zones will serve all citizens and community stakeholders, including those who may otherwise be reluctant to use law-enforcement-provided services.
“This is yet another way that your local Sheriff’s Office is working to provide practical solutions to everyday problems with an emphasis on the prevention of crime,” Lippa said.
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