‘Connect Scranton’ program leverages technology with community partnerships to keep Scranton safe
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti and Scranton Police Chief Thomas Carroll are encouraging residents and local businesses to become active partners in public safety by registering their privately owned security cameras through the new Connect Scranton program. By participating in this voluntary initiative, homeowners and business owners can play an important role in helping officers respond more quickly to incidents, solve crimes more effectively, and keep Scranton’s neighborhoods safe.
The secure online portal, found at SafeScranton.com, creates a registry of privately owned security cameras throughout the city, allowing investigators to quickly identify cameras that may have captured evidence following a crime or public safety incident.
“Public safety is strongest when our community and our police department work together,” Mayor Cognetti said. “Connect Scranton gives residents and businesses an easy, secure way to become partners in helping keep our city safe. Whether it’s helping investigators identify a suspect, locate a missing person, or piece together what happened during an emergency, every registered camera has the potential to make a meaningful difference. This is another example of how we’re combining smart technology with strong community partnerships to build a safer Scranton for everyone.”
Connect Scranton offers two voluntary ways to participate. Residents and businesses can register the location of their security cameras so officers know where cameras may be available during an investigation. Registering a camera does not give the Scranton Police Department live access to video feeds or surveillance systems. Instead, if an incident occurs nearby, investigators may contact the camera owner to request that any relevant footage be shared voluntarily as part of an investigation.
Participants with compatible camera systems may also choose to connect their devices through the secure Connect Scranton platform, allowing them to receive electronic requests for video footage following a nearby incident. Any decision to share recorded footage remains entirely with the camera owner, and the Scranton Police Department never receives unrestricted or continuous access to privately owned camera systems.
“Connect Scranton is a voluntary program that gives residents and business owners another way to support law enforcement while maintaining complete control over their own security systems,” Chief Carroll said. “Knowing where security cameras are located allows our officers to respond more quickly, identify valuable evidence more efficiently, and solve crimes more effectively. By leveraging technology and strengthening partnerships with our community, we can improve public safety, protect privacy, and help keep our neighborhoods safe.”
The City encourages homeowners, neighborhood associations, commercial property owners, and businesses of all sizes to participate. As more cameras are voluntarily registered across Scranton, investigators will be able to identify potential evidence more efficiently, improve investigations, increase case clearances, and enhance overall community safety.
Since taking office, Mayor Cognetti and her administration have invested more than $5 million in the Scranton Police Department, strengthening officer recruitment and retention, expanding advanced training opportunities, and modernizing technology and equipment. Her administration has also proposed an additional $1.1 million investment to establish a new Real Time Crime Center, providing officers with enhanced operational intelligence and faster response capabilities.
Those investments also include securing hundreds of thousands of dollars in state and federal grant funding for advanced policing technology and equipment, expanding educational partnerships through initiatives such as the Lackawanna College Police Academy, and continuing to build a highly trained, well-equipped police force prepared to meet the evolving public safety needs of the community.
Residents and businesses interested in participating in or learning more about Connect Scranton are encouraged to visit SafeScranton.com
ABOUT THE CITY OF SCRANTON: Incorporated in 1866, the City of Scranton has a population of approximately 76,000 residents and is the sixth-largest municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Scranton City Hall is located at 340 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. Residents requiring services should visit www.scrantonpa.gov
ABOUT MAYOR PAIGE G. COGNETTI: Paige G. Cognetti was sworn in as the 36th Mayor of Scranton in January 2020 and took her third Oath of Office in January 2026. Her administration is focused on public safety, driving economic growth, upgrading infrastructure, government transparency and efficiency, and improving residents’ overall quality of life.
Last modified: August 7, 2026
