ECPD further engaging community
E l Centro residents can now log on to a Website map of the city that plots the location of the most recent crimes and identifies the nature of a specific violation such as breaking and entering.
The enhanced information sharing is an attempt to keep the citizens better informed and more engaged, according to a press release from Eddie Silva Madueño, the city’s Chief of Police.
The digital mapping and analysis facility illustrates precisely where crimes were committed.
“We came across the site while trying to improve our Webpage,” said Cmdr. Robert Sawyer, public information officer. “We want residents to see how law enforcement resources are utilized and what’s occurring in the city.”
Access is free and can be obtained by logging on to www. CrimeReports.com and viewers can see a map of El Centro or a specific neighborhood of interest. Viewers must enter the data of the location they desire.
Information is automatically updated and includes the most recent incidents of the prior six months of data online.
The site has three features useful to the public, Sawyer remarked.
The first allows users to focus on a particular neighborhood or house. The site has two versions — Beta and Legacy.
In Legacy the site users can request an alert.
They set the software to receive data about what is occurring at a specific location.
Users can access this tool by clicking a tab in the upper right hand corner and select the information desired and the frequency it transmits to their email.
Another feature will permit residents with surveillance cameras and who so desire, to voluntarily register their camera to the site and on the law enforcement side, it allows police to see where registered cameras are located.
One of the most important features, it enables resident to submit an anonymous tip.
This information can be about a crime already recorded on the site or a crime known to the submitter.
Submissions can also include an uploaded photo of a license plate, vehicle or person.
Therefore it is almost like a text.
“I think it’s a wonderful tool for the public to access and it’ll be helpful to law enforcement to combat crime,” Sawyer said. “So far people who’ve looked into the Website have been very supportive.”
The intention is to inform citizens where and what manner of crime the police department is engaging.
The police department also has posted general information and a list of frequently asked questions concerning CrimeReports.com on its Facebook page.
The public is encouraged to sign up in the interest of ongoing Police Department aims to protect and serve.