Glendale police: See a crime, go online
Starting Tuesday, residents will be able to report crimes and file police reports online from their computers or smartphones.
The Glendale Police Department is launching its new Citizens Online Reporting system. It provides residents another avenue to file reports online for minor and non-emergency crimes instead of calling and waiting for an officer to arrive at the scene.
After clicking an icon on the department’s homepage, residents will be given options to report a harassing phone call, identity theft, lost property, a stolen bicycle, thefts or vandalism.
From there, residents enter information about the incident and can also upload video or photographs as evidence.
Deputy Chief Carl Povilaitis said the new reporting system enhances the department’s “ability to interact with the public” and opens one more line of communication.
Once a report has been filed, it will be assigned to an investigator who will contact the victim.
The reports, he said, “don’t go into cyberspace and disappear.”
Police will review the reports to determine if they may still need to send an officer to the scene.
Residents who prefer to talk to an officer instead of filing a report online can still request one.
The new system, which cost $50,400 for the initial startup, is expected to free up officers so they can respond to more serious calls.
Police logged more than 1,900 incident reports in which a suspect wasn’t identified last year. Having officers respond to non-emergency calls often ties them up for at least an hour.
In addition to making it easier for residents to report crime, police officials say the system will help them better track crime trends.
“We want to be on the cutting edge of technology,” Povilaitis said.
Anyone who doesn’t have access to a computer can also file a report online at a computer kiosk in the Police Department’s lobby in the 100 block of North Isabel Street.
Once reports are filed, the person making the report will receive a case number. A shift supervisor will review each report to make sure it is filled out properly and then approve and direct it to the Investigative Services Division.
To file a report, visit police.ci.glendale.ca.us.
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Follow Veronica Rocha on Google+ and on Twitter: @VeronicaRochaLA.
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