San Jose, CA, Police will be able to quickly view footage from volunteer residents’ private security cameras under a new program designed to increase the eyes and ears of San Jose’s depleted police force. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to create a police department database of all private security cameras owned by residents and businesses willing to participate, starting as soon as next month. Police will not be able to view live feeds from the cameras, but a map of nearby cameras will allow detectives to know if a crime was likely to have been caught on tape.

Investigators must request the footage from the private property owner, or get a court order.

The idea from Councilman Sam Liccardo came after police used private security camera footage volunteered by property owners to catch a serial arsonist in January.

Mayor Chuck Reed, who said he’ll register his home camera with the database, conceded the move won’t do much to help the city’s short-staffed police force, which has dropped from 1,400 cops last decade to 1,000 now.

But he was among those who argued it will help authorities save precious time looking for potential footage.

"They can go to 10 or 20 houses before they find a witness, or a house with a video," said Councilman Pete Constant, a former police officer. "It may not solve all their canvassing needs, but it’ll give them the intelligence they need to follow up."