MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee police are again touting ways people can share security cameras to help MPD gather information.

Several recent crimes have been caught on security videos, and several suspects have been identified after their images were shared.

The prevalence of video has been critical to building cases and solving crimes in recent years.

Police often use body cameras and traffic cameras, but they're encouraging people to share home security cameras that could help them in their investigations.

Security cameras near 62^nd and Harrison recorded a fatal shooting early Saturday morning, May 2.

It's the most recent of several acts of violence neighbors are trying to prevent.

In a community meeting, they asked police what more they could do.

In an interview Tuesday, MPD Chief of Staff Heather Hough told us registering cameras "Is an easy way for the public to get on board with those efforts, make things easier for our investigations, and bring justice to those who cause harm."

Recently, a man accused of sexual assault turned himself in after police circulated security video.

And on Tuesday, police shared images of a robbery suspect taken from a convenience store's security cameras.

There are two ways to share video with MPD:

The first is to simply register a camera. That lets MPD know who has cameras so if something happens nearby, they know where to go.

The second way is to integrate a camera. People can buy a device that allows MPD to access cameras whenever they need to.

Hough said, "It allows us, in real time, to see what's going on, to keep our officers safe, to keep the community safer."

Some civil rights advocates have voiced concerns over privacy and surveillance. ACLU Wisconsin has said, "This access blurs the distinction between both public and private video feeds, creating an extensive surveillance state."

But Hough maintains people can set parameters for what MPD can access. "So we have no control over that content. We don't own it. And we can’t tap into it without explicit user permission."

The integration equipment can be expensive; often it's businesses that buy in.

But free cameras are available through the city of Milwaukee's Alert Neighbor Program, which provides funding for physical neighborhood improvements.

At least eight neighborhood households can fill out a group application and schedule a safety walk.

Hough says registering or integrating cameras is a simple way to keep neighborhoods safe. "Saves us resources. Helps us solve crimes. Helps us build stronger cases."