Police Footage Requests After Ring's Change: Why a Local Recorder Helps

In January 2024, Ring ended its "Request for Assistance" tool, which had allowed police to ask users of the Neighbors app for doorbell and camera footage, according to reporting by WOBM. The news story, which focused on New Jersey police, said police can no longer use the tool to request footage from users, though they can still post public information and may use other legal means. What does that mean for homeowners and business owners? Mostly that you should know how to find, export and hand over your own footage, and that systems that record to a local recorder in your control give you more options than systems that depend entirely on a company's app. This guide explains the change, what it does and does not mean, and how to prepare.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Policies of private companies change often. Read the current terms of any service you use.

1. The Short Version

Question	General answer
What changed?	Ring ended a tool that let police request footage from users through the Neighbors app (January 2024, per WOBM).
Can police still get footage?	Yes, by asking you directly, using other legal means or through public posts. Details depend on the situation.
Do I have to give footage to police?	Generally voluntary, unless legal process requires it. Ask an attorney.
Why does a local recorder help?	You control the files, retention and export.
Is cloud bad?	No. It has benefits. A hybrid approach covers both.

2. What Ring's Change Did and Did Not Do

According to the WOBM report, Ring would no longer allow police to request footage from users through its Request for Assistance tool. The report framed it as a change in how police ask. It did not say that police can never obtain footage. Police can still talk to neighbors, canvass blocks, post public requests, and, where appropriate, seek legal process. Users can still choose to share footage with police.

Because company policies can change again, treat any single feature as unstable. The durable lesson is to control your own copy of your footage and to know how to provide it.

3. Cloud vs. Local Recording

Cloud-based cameras and doorbells store video on a company's servers. Benefits include offsite storage, simple setup and easy sharing. Drawbacks include subscriptions, dependence on the company's policies and limited retention on cheaper plans.

Local recorders (NVR or DVR) store video on a drive in your home or business. Benefits include lower ongoing costs, control over retention, ability to export original files and continued recording during internet outages. Drawbacks include risk of equipment theft or damage, and the need for drive maintenance.

Hybrid systems record locally and send selected clips to the cloud. They offer redundancy.

See our guide on cloud versus local storage and five-year costs.

4. Why a Local Recorder Helps When Police Ask

You have the original file. Exporting original-quality clips is straightforward.
You control retention. You can keep 30 days or more.
You decide who can view and share. You are not relying on a company's process.
Multiple cameras are in one place. Detectives often want several angles.
Time stamps are consistent. One recorder, one clock.
It works without a subscription. You do not lose access if you stop paying.

For businesses, these benefits matter even more, because you may be asked for footage repeatedly.

5. How to Prepare, Whatever System You Have

Know how to export. Practice exporting a clip from last week.
Check your retention. How many days do you have?
Sync the clock. Use an internet time source.
Name your cameras clearly. "Front door," "Driveway," "Rear alley."
Back up important clips. Save to a second device.
Protect your accounts. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication. See CISA guidance at cisa.gov.
Write a one-page routine for what to do after an incident.
Know who handles requests in your business.

See our guide on giving footage to the NYPD.

6. Do You Have to Share?

Generally, sharing footage with police is voluntary unless legal process requires it. Some people prefer to share, to help their community. Others have concerns about privacy, liability or what the footage shows. Whatever you choose, be informed. If you share, share only the relevant clip. If police present a legal demand, talk to an attorney. If you are a landlord, employer or business, follow your written policy.

7. Privacy Basics Still Apply

Sharing footage does not fix problems with how it was recorded. Penal Law section 250.45, a class E felony, covers secret recording in private settings such as bedrooms, restrooms and changing rooms, as shown at nysenate.gov. Audio recording raises separate issues under Penal Law section 250.05 and, in New Jersey, the state's wiretap law, N.J.S.A. 2A:156A-1 and following. Turn audio off unless you have legal advice. See our audio guides for New York and New Jersey.

8. News Context

Doorbell and camera video appears regularly in local stories. In January 2025, ABC7 reported on Sayreville, New Jersey, where a group pried open a window and entered a family's home despite an alarm, two Ring cameras and two dogs, according to ABC7 New York. The cameras recorded the entry. The case is a reminder that cameras document events and do not stop determined intruders. It also shows the value of footage that can be exported and shared.

In February 2026, NYPD released stills and video from a Staten Island doorstep to help identify three young men who tried to enter three homes overnight, according to CBS News New York. NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).

9. If You Already Have Ring or Another Cloud System

You do not need to throw it away. Consider:

Learning how to download clips from the app.
Checking your plan's retention.
Adding a local recorder with wired cameras for key areas.
Using the doorbell as a convenience and the wired system as the record.
Reviewing the company's privacy settings and sharing options.

A hybrid is common: keep the doorbell for alerts and add PoE cameras that record locally.

10. For Businesses

Businesses should avoid depending on consumer apps for critical records. A local recorder with RAID, a defined retention period and a written export process is more dependable. Add cloud backup for key clips if desired. NYC businesses can also join the NYPD's free Community Camera Sharing Program, which NYC311 describes as open to any business with a security camera. See our guide on registering.

11. Costs

A professionally installed four-camera system with a local recorder typically costs $1,600 to $3,600 in 2026, while a cloud doorbell may cost $100 to $350 plus a subscription. A hybrid might add $10 to $30 per month. See our cost guides for details.

12. Questions to Ask Your Installer

Will my footage record locally, in the cloud or both?
How do I export original-quality clips?
How many days of footage will I have?
What happens if my internet goes down?
Can you add a local recorder to my existing doorbell setup?
How do I protect my accounts?

See our local pages for video doorbell installation in Staten Island, security camera installation in Hoboken, home camera installation in Brooklyn and our services page.

Not sure how your footage would be handled in an emergency? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.

13. Keep Policies in Perspective

Companies change policies for business and legal reasons, and their terms can change again. The best protection is not to rely on a single feature. Learn how your system works, keep your own copies of important footage and write down a simple routine. If you do, a policy change will matter far less.

14. A Simple Footage Routine for Households

Most homeowners never practice getting footage out of their system, then discover at the worst moment that the app is confusing or the clip has expired. A short routine fixes that. Once a month, pick a clip from the past week and export it to a phone or USB drive. Confirm it plays on a second device. Check that the date and time on screen are correct, and write down how many days of video the system holds. Keep a note on the fridge or in your phone with the recorder password location, the app name and who in the household can log in. If you rent, ask your landlord which cameras, if any, you are allowed to run and who controls the recording. Ten minutes a month is enough, and it means that if a package vanishes, a car is hit or someone tries a door, you can hand over a clean clip in minutes instead of searching through menus while the evidence ages out.

More From Revolvis

Cameras are one layer of a secure property. The same in-house crew also handles the rest:

Learn more about Revolvis, meet the team, see all services, browse the blog or contact us.

Areas We Serve

Revolvis installs residential and commercial camera systems across the New York metro area. Every borough and county has its own building stock, rules and wiring challenges, so the plan for a Queens two-family is not the plan for a Manhattan co-op.

Staten Island: houses, detached garages and shop fronts. See security camera installation in Staten Island.
Brooklyn: brownstones, row houses and storefronts. See security camera installation in Brooklyn.
Queens: attached brick homes, two-families and busy commercial strips. See security camera installation in Queens.
The Bronx: pre-war buildings, bodegas and warehouses. See security camera installation in the Bronx.
Manhattan: co-ops, condos, offices and retail. See security camera installation in Manhattan.
Long Island: Nassau County and Suffolk County.
New Jersey: Jersey City, Newark, Hoboken and nearby towns.

The full list is on the service areas page.

Get a Custom Quote After a Site Visit

Revolvis prices every job after a site visit, because the building sets the cost as much as the equipment does. A few things make the estimate faster and more accurate:

The address and property type: house, apartment, co-op, condo, storefront or warehouse.
Which doors, sides and areas you want covered, and what worries you most.
Photos of those spots and any spots where you already have cabling or power.
How many days of footage you want to keep and whether you want to watch on your phone.
Any landlord, board, lender or insurer requirement.

Call 347-258-9165 or use the contact page to book a site visit. The quote you receive is written and itemized, so you can compare it line by line.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Ring change in 2024? According to WOBM, Ring ended its Request for Assistance tool that let police request footage from Neighbors app users.

Can police still get Ring footage? They can ask users directly, post public requests and use other legal means. Details depend on the situation.

Do I have to give police my footage? Generally voluntary unless legal process requires it. Ask an attorney if unsure.

Why get a local recorder? You control the original files, retention and export, and recording continues during internet outages.

Can I keep my Ring doorbell? Yes. Many people combine a doorbell with a wired local system.

How do I export footage quickly? Practice before you need it. Ask your installer to show you.

Ready for a custom quote? Call Revolvis at 347-258-9165 for a site visit and a written, itemized estimate.

Safety note: A camera system supports, but does not replace, good locks, lighting, alarms and everyday habits. If you are in danger or witnessing a crime, call 911. Prices and legal summaries in this guide are general information for the New York metro area, not an offer or legal advice. A written quote after a site visit governs your actual price, and for legal questions you should confirm with the agencies linked in the article or a licensed attorney.