The Stratford Police Department announced a new iWatch Stratford free software application for residents to use to report crime tips and suspicious activity. Chief Patrick Ridenhour, Deputy Chief Joseph McNeil and Capt. Paul DosSantos made the announcement at a press briefing on April 21.
The application may be downloaded to cell phones and other mobile electronic communications devices, enabling people of Stratford to deliver tips to police immediately from wherever they are, the officers said.
People interested in using the system may go to www.iWatchStratford.com and download the application to an iPhone, Android or BlackBerry.
The tip system is not intended for reporting emergencies. For emergencies or if anyone is imminent danger, “Call 911,” Ridenhour said.
With Police Capt. Paul DosSantos operating the audio-visual presentation Chief Patrick Ridenhour introduces iWatch Stratford tip reporting system on April 21. Greg Reilly photo.
McNeil replied to a question of using either 911 or the iWatch Stratford tip application if a resident learns of an assault that caused injury. Use 911 in that case, McNeil said. But “if you have information on the assault later on and want to report it anonymously, use the app, he said.
Tips delivered through the iWatch Stratford system are anonymous, unless the tipster wishes and chooses to add personal contact information. The general area location of the person providing the tip is communicated unless the person chooses to clicks on a prominent disable-location function.
Individuals also may send photos or videos relating to a reported crime, with or without written information, from their handheld device or from their personal computer.
Ridenhour said the department’s adoption of the iWatch system is “recognition of technology advances,” especially among young people. He wants to “take advantage” of the technology and “make it easier” for people to report criminal or suspicious activity.
“They know the neighborhoods better than we do,” said the chief. “This is free, safe and simple.”
McNeil said, “The issue we [police departments] face is that people don’t speak up” when they see or hear about criminal activity. iWatch Stratford is designed to get more people involved in fighting local crime.
As the system is rolled out in Stratford all tips will be received by either McNeil or Capt. Greg Proudfoot, who will forward the information to the appropriate officer in the department. Like all tips received from the community, they will be sorted out for urgency and validity.
False tips are always a concern, McNeil said, but the advantages of the mobile tipping system far outweigh those concerns.
McNeil said that experience at the very beginning of using the system shows that tips that come in may often be related to narcotics and dog complaints. “Quality of life issues,” in the words of Ridenhour.
The company that developed the iWatch application, iThinQware, describes the system as “enabling the public to act as the ‘silent eyes’ of law enforcement on a street-by-street basis using cell phone cameras and videos, digital cameras and email to build comprehensive maps of suspicious activity or gang-related incidents.”
