The recent fire at the former Jamestown Royal illustrated, among other things, the value in Jamestown police officers having easy access to private security camera footage.

Two days after the fire, Jamestown police were able to rule the fire arson and track down the girls who started the blaze. Video showed the girls entering the building and then, after the fire started, leaving the area east on the railroad tracks and past several surveillance cameras at area businesses.

Without access to the video, it likely would have been impossible to make a ruling on the cause given the heat from the fire and the quick emergency demolition of what was left of the building. Without access to video from surrounding properties, it is very likely the youths who started the fire would have never been found.

Making such quick work of the Jamestown Royal investigation speaks to the value in cooperating with police, particularly when it comes to sharing private security video footage.