What is Neighbors Public Safety Service?
Neighbors Public Safety Service (NPSS) is the interface that allows public safety officials to connect, communicate and share hyper-local updates with their communities. With NPSS, public safety users can see and comment on publicly posted content from the Neighbors App feed, share posts, and manage voluntarily shared video recordings.
Why do local public safety agencies use Neighbors?
Neighbors provides local public safety agencies with a feature to help them better engage with and inform the communities they serve. Neighbors is a meeting place for every community member, which includes local public safety agencies. When communities and public safety work together, we believe that safer neighborhoods can become a reality.
How do users benefit from local public safety agencies using Neighbors?
Public safety users can post information about crime and safety alerts, view and comment on public posts within their jurisdiction as an identified public safety user
Public safety users may also create a ‘Request for Assistance’ post on Neighbors asking their community to assist with an active investigation. Ring users can choose to share information or video recordings in response to a Request for Assistance Post.
What information do public safety users have access to when they use Neighbors?
Neighbors is designed to ensure that when local public safety agencies use Neighbors, they do not have access to user information or video recordings unless a user posts that information or video recording to the Neighbors App or shares it in response to a Request for Assistance post. Specifically:
- Device Privacy - Public safety users cannot access your Ring device, such as seeing your Ring device’s live video stream or otherwise controlling your Ring device.
- Video Privacy - Public safety users cannot view any of your Ring video recordings unless you post it to the Neighbors App or share it in response to a Request for Assistance Post.
- Account Privacy - Public safety users cannot see your name, contact information, location or whether you viewed a post unless you post that information to the Neighbors App or share your video recordings in response to a Request for Assistance post. Should you choose to share your recordings, the recordings you chose to share, your street address (the address associated with your Ring device), and the email address associated with your account will be shared with the public safety user who requested the recordings.
Can local public safety agencies see the location of my house and/or camera when they use Neighbors?
Neighbors does not share the addresses at which any devices are located unless you post it to the Neighbors App or share a video recording in response to a Request for Assistance post. Should you choose to share your recordings, the recordings you chose to share, your street address (the address associated with your Ring device), and the email address associated with your account will be shared with the public safety user who created the Request for Assistance post. For more information on Request for Assistance posts please read our FAQ.
If a local public safety agency starts using Neighbors, how will I know?
Ring sends in-app announcements to users through the Neighbors App when local public safety agencies start using the app. You may also see a press release, social media posts or other external announcements if the local public safety agency chooses to post them. Additionally, users can search the Active Agency Map here to see if their local public safety agency is using the Neighbors App.
Where can I learn more about how local public safety agencies use Neighbors?
We’ve created a Neighbors Public Safety Service Help Center to help our local public safety users learn how to use Neighbors to communicate with residents. Anyone can view this Help Center by clicking here.
How do I request my local public safety agency to start using Neighbors?
Please contact your local public safety agency and encourage them to contact us at publicsafety@ring.com to learn how to get involved.
How much does it cost for local public safety agencies use Neighbors?
Neighbors is free for all users, including local public safety agencies.
If my local public safety agency is on Neighbors, do I still need to file a police report when posting a crime-related incident to the app?
Yes. Posting on the Neighbors App does not replace filing an official report. Please call your local public safety agency for more information on filing a report.
Do I need to register my camera with my local public safety agency?
Ring devices are not part of any camera registration programs. Ring does not participate in any programs that require users to register cameras with public safety as a condition of receiving or purchasing a device.
I have feedback and/or questions about local public safety agency’s use Neighbors, where can I send it?
We would love to hear your feedback. Please email us at publicsafety@ring.com.
Has a local public safety agency ever resolved a case through using Neighbors?
We’ve seen many positive examples of Neighbors users and local public safety engaging on the app and believe open communication is an important step in building safer, stronger communities. From getting stolen guns off the streets to helping families keep their children safe, we’ve achieved amazing results by working together.
One Virginia Beach family was able to quickly recover stolen medical supplies for their diabetic child after sharing a video of the package theft on Neighbors. Thanks to the app, a neighbor spotted the suspect and alerted local law enforcement who then made an arrest and located the missing package. Get the full story here.
