CANTON, Ohio - With the help of technology, residents in one local community are being urged to help police combat crime.

On Tuesday, Canton Mayor William Healy announced three new crime initiatives designed to increase citizen involvement and strengthen ties between police and residents.

In December, Christopher Anderson died after he was savagely beaten on Rowland Avenue NE in Canton. The attack was caught on home surveillance video. Although the video quality was grainy, police say it helped them piece together what happened.

One of the new crime-fighting initiatives involving technology is the I-SPI (Invited Surveillance for Police Investigations). Residents can aid police in catching criminals by volunteering to install a surveillance camera at their own home. Neighbors who have problem will be able to broadcast surveillance directly to police headquarters.

"We would install them on their property at their request and they would be stationed to watch that area where there is problems," said Mayor Healy.

"I think it's a good idea. I'm a little unsure about the big brother of it all," said Canton resident Brian Seeton.

"I think that would be a good thing then you know how safe your children are in the neighborhood," said Canton Resident Melinda Jackson.

Starting Tuesday, residents can review "Canton's Most Wanted" criminals on Canton City School Channel 11 and Time Warner Cable Government Access Channel 15.

Those who are tech-savvy can sign up for Nixle Alerts. Residents can receive police updates through text, email and twitter.

"This is kind of like an amber alert type system, if there's something going on, we need to communicate with the public," said Mayor Healy.

Canton residents like Brian Seeton say the constant communication sounds like a step in the right direction. "The more connected the better I guess," said Seeton.