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Reporting Crime Via Text-Messaging
Monday, September 29, 2008 5:06 PM  

 

Man in suit textingText-messaging is becoming such a routine way of communicating among the younger set that even my six-year-old is texting on a battery-operated, smart phone toy that actually sends and receives messages.

Now the Washington D.C. Metro transit police are piloting a text-messaging crime reporting program in which train and bus riders can report crime by texting from BlackBerrys and cell phones, reports the Washington Post.

More and more police departments are using tips that are text-messaged by the public as a way to save time and reduce the fear of retaliation some riders feel when they inform bus drivers and train operators of criminal activity.

Some train riders say they've remained quiet because they feel too intimidated by boisterous teenagers to call in disruptive behavior to police, says the Post.

The Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority says text-messaging crime is just one more tool to reach out to the public. "If a patron is concerned about his or her safety by getting up and going to the intercom box (in rail cars), then possibly sending a text message to Transit Police would take some of that concern away," Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Taborn told the Post. Close-up of cell phone keyboard

The agency is piloting the text-messaging program by testing it among employees who have BlackBerrys - about 50 to 70 employees. A spokesperson said police may be able to track trends in types of incidents and locations, which may be used to fine-tune deployments.

Dozens of police departments and school systems nationwide have been using text-messaging to supplement the success of telephone tip lines and to appeal to young cell phone users.

New Yorkers use their cell phones to snap photos of crimes in progress and e-mail them to police. In Chicago, several public high schools and the police department have coordinated a program where students who see other students with a gun or hear of plans of after-school fights to text-message authorities.

Teenaged girl texting on cell phoneCloser to home, the Houston Police Department says it does not have a text-messaging program in place, but it does have an e-mail address for citizens who want to e-mail tips on gang activity and a telephone tip line for gang activity. HPD also investigates tips called into the Crime Stoppers telephone hotline. 

Here at METRO, Assistant Police Chief Tim Kelly said he is interested in finding out how the Washington program develops.

 "We are supportive of innovative ways to communicate with our customers and clients as evidenced by the #MPD free cell call to our police dispatch," said Kelly. "My question on text-messaging is where it would be centrally received and how it would be processed to ensure that we do not drop an important request. Safeguards would have to be looked at to make sure text-messaging would be used only for tips and questions,  and not for requesting a police response."

 

 

Posted by Mary Sit
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    • Comments

    DominicMazoch said:

    If you really want to see a panhandler run at Warp 10:

    1.  YELL "THIS IS A NON PANHANDLING AREA (Downtown/Midtown)."

    2.  "I'm calling MPD on my cell."

    OK, MPD may not get there ASAP, but you know what:  I want my downtown back.

    Then again, if they tell you not to call, that statement, in and of itself, is a felony, for trying to prent somebosy to call 911/Police/Fire/EMS.

    # September 29, 2008 9:18 PM

    DominicMazoch said:

    Text Messaging:

    Great idea.

    Other Non-Panhandling areas:

    1.  TxDOT ROW's

    2.  Within 8 feet of:

    a.  An ATM machine.  METRO Q card machines QUALIFY!

    b.  A gasoline pump

    c.  A pay phone.

    Come on.  Let's take Houston back!

    # September 29, 2008 9:23 PM

    Elizabeth said:

    I think this is an excellent idea.  Text messaging is great too, because even if someone is looking at your phone, they have to be at exactly the right angle to see anything.

    Dominic, those downtown panhandlers are a "special" breed - very tenacious.  I deal with them in the Medical Center, but my son works downtown and tells me how aggressive they can be.  Late at night he says it's like that movie "Night of the Living Dead."  The downtown bums really come out in droves like zombies: "Have you got any spare chaaaaaaaaaange?"

    # September 30, 2008 11:57 AM

    DominicMazoch said:

    Elizabeth:

    Maybe those who GIVE to panhandlers in a "non-pan zone" should also be given a ticket:  aiding and abetting a crime.

    # October 1, 2008 7:38 PM

    ChloeMireille said:

    "Dominic, those downtown panhandlers are a "special" breed - very tenacious.  I deal with them in the Medical Center, but my son works downtown and tells me how aggressive they can be.  Late at night he says it's like that movie "Night of the Living Dead."  The downtown bums really come out in droves like zombies: "Have you got any spare chaaaaaaaaaange?"

    Apparently, your son watches South Park and they did that exact same joke.

    But on topic, I agree that text messaging would be helpful in crime situations.

    # October 2, 2008 8:40 AM

    C said:

    People really underestimate these bums. They will figure out some new scheme to maintain their lifestyle. I see how they strategically place themselves out at rush hour and dig in the trash in front of waiting commuters until one person gives in and gives them a buck so they will go away.

    But there’s this one skinny, skinny, SKINNNY!!! Black guy who just creeps me out every time I see him.

    But can we text in other things? Like, the Greenspoint 6a SB 102 that smells like toadstool?

    And why is there a METRO supervisor standing on Louisiana making sure those busses are on time but none on Travis?

    # October 4, 2008 1:05 PM

    Cedric Collins said:

    C said:  "And why is there a METRO supervisor standing on Louisiana making sure those busses are on time but none on Travis?"

    Where at on Louisiana?  Keep in mind that there's also FIRST TRANSIT supervisors that do the same thing---making sure buses get to a stop on time.  Every now and then, I would be seeing one sitting in a vehicle at the corner of Louisiana @ St. Joseph Parkway---where the new HFD Station 8 is.

    # October 6, 2008 6:32 AM
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