Here's a press release the Provo Police Department issued last week:
New technology now allows Provo Citizens to take a more proactive approach to local crime fighting through CrimeReports.com and TipSoft
The Provo Police Department is pleased to announce that citizens can now gain access to neighborhood level crime incident data in near real time. Through a partnership with CrimeReports, creators of the national crime map at www.crimereports.com the Provo Police Department is giving Provo Citizens free access to the world’s largest online crime map. Together with CrimeReports, citizens are also able to send anonymous tips to law enforcement via text message, iPhone and Android.
“Providing reliable, timely information to our citizens is one of our top priorities,” says Rick Gregory, Chief of Police. “And partnering with CrimeReports gives us the ability to keep the public informed on a regular basis as to what is going on in the community.” He added that the public can access the crime map through the website or through the CrimeReports iPhone app, which is available for free download in the Apple iTunes store.
The new service even lets local citizens sign up for free customizable email alerts, so they can stay on top of crime in their neighborhood. “We hope that giving the community this information will help them understand crime trends and lower crime in their neighborhoods, and achieve the very important partnerships we are we are working for.” Rick Gregory, Chief of Police.
Along with the interactive crime map, citizens also have access to the anonymous tipping platform TipSoft, which is used by more than 700 law enforcement agencies nationwide. The service allows people to anonymously provide tips to law enforcement. When a tip is sent, it is encrypted and routed through secure servers, protecting the personal details of the tip provider. It also allows police to exchange text messages with the tip provider without ever knowing the person’s identity. Text users can send their tip to “CRIMES” (274637) with the keyword provotip. (Type "provotip" at the beginning of your message.)
“The popularity of text messaging has created a significant opportunity for the public to help law enforcement agencies prevent and solve crime,” said Chief Gregory. “The ability for any citizen who owns a mobile phone to assist law enforcement is extremely valuable and we are excited to make this program available to the public.”
“The Provo Police Department is demonstrating its leadership in law enforcement,” says Greg Whisenant, founder and CEO of CrimeReports. “By offering CrimeReports and TipSoft, they are recognizing the value of the public’s involvement and being proactive in both policing, and fiscal diligence.” Both the web-based crime map and crime tip service are designed to be affordable for agencies of all sizes.
You can access the CrimeReports map and TipSoft service at www.crimereports.com.
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