To Help Turn Off Crime, Police Are Logging On

Wisconsin police departments are using technology to improve response times to local crimes. For instance, police in New Berlin use the Internet to send pictures of crime suspects and provide other important information related to a wide range of cases to local homeowners and businesses. The system helps keep the community more informed about local criminal and police activities. A similar alert system used by De Pere police led to the quick apprehension of a burglary suspect when he attempted to cash a large number of stolen coins. Police in the state also employ text messaging to alert citizens to recent crimes and provide other law enforcement-related information. More than 40 police departments in the state are linked to the Citizen Observer communications system, which enables departments to send e-mail, cell phone, digital pager, or fax alerts. Citizens in communities using the system can sign up to receive alerts by accessing the Citizen Observer Web site, www.citizenobserver.com. The system provides roughly 150 communities throughout the United States with the latest crime information.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (07/08/03) P. 1B; Jansen, Corissa.