People can now file police reports on line

[retdetsgt]

Gresham Police Launch Online Police Reports

GRESHAM, Ore. -- The Gresham Police Department launched a new online reporting service that will allow people to file certain police reports online.

Police said those reports include vandalism, lost property and theft, excluding theft of firearms and prescription medications.

When filing an online report, the filer must complete a series of basic questions about the crime and then submit the report. The report will be reviewed by police and the filer will get a free copy via e-mail. They will also be assigned a case number.

The report will automatically merge into the Police Department records management system, police said, where it will receive the same investigative and statistical analysis as if the report had been filed by a police officer, according to the department.

"Not only do we anticipate this new service will save residents time, we also expect it to free up officers. Taking a routine police report takes about one hour and each hour spent taking a report is one less hour spent on patrol," said Gresham Police Chief Craig Junginger.

Gresham Police Launch Online Police Reports - Portland News Story - KPTV Portland

Gresham is suburb of Portland, but has a population of about 90,000 people. It's grown at a staggering rate over the past 20 years from a little bitty community to a decent size city. I used to live there, but moved because the crime rate was going up disproportionally and the police were maintaining a small town attitude.. Police departments are almost always reactive rather than proactive when it comes to various crimes, but it seemed they just couldn't grasp the changes that were obvious to me.

I hate to see this kind of crime reporting, it's always better for everyone in the long run when there is face to face contact with a police officer when you're a victim. But I can see where they are probably overwhelmed.

Does anyone else do this?

[Trip]

Gresham Police Launch Online Police Reports



Gresham Police Launch Online Police Reports - Portland News Story - KPTV Portland


I hate to see this kind of crime reporting, it's always better for everyone in the long run when there is face to face contact with a police officer when you're a victim. But I can see where they are probably overwhelmed.

I think it is stupid beyond belief. IMHO. I see it everywhere too....thinking technology's gonna take the place of the human element.....one of the many things I have my fingers in is consulting ......where I'm normally telling folks their over-reliance on technology is gonna bite them in the a**....and invariably they call me back a year or two later and ask me how to fix the process because their reliance on some technical solution they bought F'ed em up SO badly. Yep there's absolutely a place for technology and sometimes there's not. I'm also gonna love all the calls we old people get in about 20 years asking for our good ole' fashion communications know how.....

[fatboyjim154]

Oh yeah,

https://online.met.police.uk/

Don't like it too many fraudulent reports will slip through. Not enough 'customer focus'

[greg72982]

I don't see it as a bad idea as long as the questions are very direct. If not there's a huge potential for people to screw it up. If most reports filed online look anything like 95% of the written statements I get, they are doomed.

.....one of the many things I have my fingers in is consulting ...

What is something else you have your fingers in? :D

[Cat_Doc]

We have it, for minor crimes only, but it is not ulitlized very much at all. Why sit down and fill out a report yourself when you can dial-a-cop?

[limeade]

Personally I love it, If we had unlimited funds in a perfect world I would say face to face time is needed. But we don't live in that world, nothing bothers me more than writing a rpt for a criminal mischief call with no suspect information when I could be using my spare time to be proactive.

[manahmanah]

As a beat officer it is a pain in the a$$ sometimes to go to a misdemeanor vandalism call where there is no suspect information and the report will go nowhere. With that being said, the face time with citizens is PRICELESS in the long run in terms of support from the community.

I can't tell you how many times I've gone to a B.S. call, took a report only to have the citizen tell me "Thank you so much for coming out, I just moved here from so-and-so about a year ago and they won't even come out for calls like this."

These are the same people that actually show up to city council meetings and support us when we need it. My wife's rear windshield was shot out with a bb gun and the Sheriff's Office would not even dispatch a deputy to take a report because there was no suspect info, they wanted me to do it all online. I was pretty pissed off so I definitely see it from the perspective of a citizen who is the victim of a crime now.

I don't agree 100% with all aspects of "community policing" all the time but I believe it has it's place and can be effective. Nothing worse in my opinion than a cop that never gets out of his car. I actually had a business owner schedule a meeting with the chief one day because me and one of my partners went on foot patrol for an hour and just checked on the businesses in a local strip mall, just to tell him that it was the first time in over 10 years an officer came in "just because". The business owner offered his support in any way he could.

I suppose if your city is overwhelmed with violent/people crimes it has it's advantages (the online thing) but it does not help from a community support point of view. Just my thoughts.

[retdetsgt]

I suppose if your city is overwhelmed with violent/people crimes it has it's advantages (the online thing) but it does not help from a community support point of view. Just my thoughts.

Mine too.

[SHH 1313]

I want to thank Saftey Steve & RP, when my wallet was stolen there was very good advice given on RP. I was able to call KPD and give my report by phone and it saved me a testy drive and I am sure an aggravating experience. I am an impatient person. So, THANK YOU RP & Saftey Steve, live long and prosper and may the angel's wings surround y'all in your time of need.

Regards,
SHH 1313

[Trip]

What is something else you have your fingers in? :D

Well, if you ever come near me I'm gonna stick em in your eyeballs. Out of uniform that is. Btw, Greggie, you guys catch the shooter up on I-70?

[Trip]

I don't see it as a bad idea as long as the questions are very direct. If not there's a huge potential for people to screw it up. If most reports filed online look anything like 95% of the written statements I get, they are doomed.

D

I've been writing reports or sitreps or MFRs my whole life and it's been funny watching people try to automate them. They always have to wind up coming back to the originator to get the data straight. So not only does it not save time, it actually adds more time. That's been my experience at least. And your post, Greggie, seems to confirm that. We have this saying in hi-tech: garbage in, garbage out.

[Trip]

These are the same people that actually show up to city council meetings and support us when we need it. My wife's rear windshield was shot out with a bb gun and the Sheriff's Office would not even dispatch a deputy to take a report because there was no suspect info, they wanted me to do it all online. I was pretty pissed off so I definitely see it from the perspective of a citizen who is the victim of a crime now.

Yes, Sir, manahmanah, that is true. In May I had to get assistance from the fire department in my county for the second time in 12 months, so I wrote a really detailed two page letter to the Chief of the Fire Department and in it I told them that since I've been used to doing budgets my whole career and am trained as an economist, I'd be more than happy to show up at a County Meeting and testify on their behalf that the Fire Department should get more funding.

[retdetsgt]

We've had a telephone report unit for decades. If you call to report a simple theft or vandalism where there is no evidence at the scene, radio transfers you to them. It's manned by officers on light duty or someone who has been buried for a while for various reasons.

It takes a lot of reports where the officer wouldn't be more than a secretary anyway. It was funny when one of the Chief Senior DDA's had her car broken into and she was referred to them for the report. She was a bit outraged and even more so when I explained to her that's how the other half lives....

But like on the street, the PR factor depends on the officer. Some can take the call and make the citizen feel they're important, others could piss off Mother Theresa.

[greg72982]

Well, if you ever come near me I'm gonna stick em in your eyeballs. Out of uniform that is. Btw, Greggie, you guys catch the shooter up on I-70?

Nope not that I've heard. On the plus side I dont believe anymore vehicles have been shot either...

[Lawson]

Our Sheriff's Office has online reporting now. The website is blasted all over the back of the patrol cars.