Bloomington police seek help from security-camera owners

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) - Bloomington police are asking residents and business owners to let them use their security cameras to fight crime.

The police department launched a program Wednesday asking those who have exterior security cameras to register them with authorities.

The (Bloomington) Pantagraph reports (http://bit.ly/1oFm5nt ) that police say video volunteered by private camera owners in recent years has helped solve street crimes, shootings, robberies, burglaries and fatal car crashes.

The program will allow police to search registrations for cameras nearby a crime scene. Video near an East Washington Street office led to a murder charge against Kirk Zimmerman in the November 2014 shooting death of his ex-wife, Pamela. He has pleaded not guilty.

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Online: http://www.cityblm.org/

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Information from: The Pantagraph, http://www.pantagraph.com