Story Published: Dec 8, 2009 at 7:26 PM PST
The first program is a crime-mapping software that plots various crimes according to location, type of crime and the date it happened. The crimes are denoted by small, colored boxes which pop up with short synopses. The Chief expects those blurbs will turn into more specific explanations once officers are trained on the program.
The other program is called a "Community Service Portal". It's a way to file non-emergency reports to police online, including everything from graffiti, to malicious mischief to code enforcement problems. Once you file a report, your emails will be automatically sent to five administrative officials at the police department including the Chief, sergeants and other crime analysts.
"We love it. Certainly as our communities get busier and get used to technology we want to make sure we're staying ahead of that curve and giving us ways to access up the same way. And that way people don't have to tie up all their time," West Richland Police Chief Layne Erdman said.
The Chief said the software did not cost the department any more money.
To find out how to sign on go to www.westrichland.org. At the top of the website you'll see various tabs. Click on "departments." In the drop down menu click on "police." The first page should bring you to an icon with the crime map as well as a link to the crime portal.
Or you can click this link to go directly to the Crime Service Portal:
