The Bend Police Department has partnered with the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office to help Bend businesses tackle Organized Retail Theft. Made possible through the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission’s Grant Program, ten Bend retailers can apply for the grant will win a security system device known as FususCore. That connects up to four existing cameras to the Bend Connect system, the Bend Police Department’s real-time camera access system, giving law enforcement connection to in-store footage of theft or emergency.
FususCore utilizes Artificial Intelligence to recognize weapons or vehicles of interest, but does not use facial recognition technology. Additionally, virtual panic buttons are available through the FususAlert app to alert first responders of emergency and to activate streaming on authorized cameras.
Businesses that receive the device can register their cameras through a private online portal, giving authorized Bend Police Department officers ability to locate and map cameras. In the event of a crime, store owners must explicitly give law enforcement written permission to access camera footage. The BPD cannot remotely override the owner’s privacy settings, giving owners full privacy and control. Registering comes with no extra costs. The device comes with a one-year program subscription. Police say the goal is to enhance community safety and security, gain closer collaboration between law enforcement and businesses and allow faster police response.
As part of the agreement in the grant application, businesses that receive the grant agree to pay at least one year to continue being part of the program after the first year runs out which is $150.
For more information, visit the Privacy FAQs page: https://bendconnect.org/privacy-faqs/
Business owners can apply to: https://www.cognitoforms.com/deschutescounty2/organizedretailtheftbendconnectintegrationgrantprogram by11:59 PM Sunday, August 3.
This article appears in Source Weekly July 10, 2025.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
