Filing a paper police report for petty crimes can be a hassle, and the Austin Police Department hopes its new online system will simplify the process.
On April 7, APD launched a web-based program that allows citizens to write their own reports on minor incidents or write a supplement to an existing police report. So far, citizens have filed 93 reports, and APD expects them to file many more within the first six months of the program.
The system is supported by the vendor copLogic, which the Travis County Police Department also uses for its online police report system. According to APD, copLogic is very cost effective and sends each report straight to APD’s current management system.
The online report takes about 10 minutes to fill out and allows citizens to file nonemergency, low-priority reports from anywhere with internet access.
In 2010, APD processed more than 58,000 telephone reports through 3-1-1, and according to a police officer, many of those reports were low-priority and required little follow-up. With this new system, APD hopes the majority of these reports will be done online instead, said APD officer Simone Graboski.
“The online reporting system is going to be very beneficial to officers and citizens by improving the quality of the report received,” Graboski said.
The most common reports so far include online harassment, credit card abuse and graffiti. Graboski said officers typically reply to the reports within three to four business days, but the website says to allow 12-14.
In order to fill out a online police report, citizens must be at least 17 years old, have a valid email account and proper state identification.
Currently, the UT Police Department does not offer the same online reporting system but does have an anonymous crime tip website which allows students to make reports 24 hours a day.
“It is just a matter of time before UT implements such a system,” said UTPD officer Darrell Halstead.
Houston Police Department instituted a similar online police reporting system in 2007. HPD multimedia specialist Mary Haisten said it still seems new because it is such an exciting tool.
This month alone, HPD’s online police reporting system received 2,486 police reports, the majority of which consisted of vandalism, theft and criminal mischief.
Within two months, the system will be available in other languages including Spanish and Vietnamese. Within six months, the system will accommodate business owners as well, Graboski said.
