Mayor Bowser Encourages Residents to Help Build a #SaferStrongerDC by Participating in Private Security Camera Incentive Program

Monday, July 29, 2019
Program Has Funded Over 15,000 Cameras and Assisted MPD’s Efforts to Prevent and Solve Neighborhood Crimes
(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser called on residents, business owners, non-profits, and religious institutions to participate in the District’s Private Security Camera Incentive Program to help prevent and solve neighborhood crimes. The program provides rebates for the purchase, installation, and registration of a security camera system on the exterior of a home or building owned or leased by a DC resident, business, nonprofit, or religious institution. The Mayor was joined by the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG) Director Michelle Garcia, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Fourth District Commander Randy Griffin, and business owners.
“We all know that reducing crime and keeping everyone safe is not just the job of MPD – residents can also help build safer, stronger neighborhoods by participating in the Private Security Camera Incentive Program,” said Mayor Bowser. “We’ve seen it time and time again – when we have clear video footage of a crime, we can act faster to get dangerous people off our streets. Participating is easy and free and installing a camera is one small but effective way neighbors can work together to prevent and solve crimes in our community.”
Mayor Bowser originally introduced legislation to create the camera incentive program in 2015 as part of her comprehensive public safety agenda, Safer, Stronger DC. Over the past three years, the program has received over 7,100 applications, provided over $2.25 million in rebates, and funded over 15,000 cameras across all 8 wards.
“We ask you to join more than 6,600 community members who have already taken advantage of the program,” said Michelle M. Garcia, Director of the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants. “We have dedicated staff available to support any District resident, business, non-profit, or religious institution in applying to the rebate or voucher program. We encourage anyone who is interested or has any questions to contact us directly for guidance.”
There are two ways to participate:
The Private Security Camera Rebate Program creates a rebate for residents, businesses, nonprofits, and religious institutions to purchase and install security camera systems on their property and register them with MPD. The program provides a rebate of up to $200 per camera, with a maximum rebate of up to $500 per residential address (e.g., home offices, condo buildings, and apartments) and $750 for all other eligible addresses. The rebate is exclusively for the cost of the camera(s) including any applicable tax.
The Private Security Camera Voucher Program provides a private security camera system to eligible residents free of charge. District residents – either owners or tenants – who receive public assistance may be eligible to have a camera system installed at their home.
More information about the Private Security Camera Program is available at bit.ly/dccameras.

Press Release