The CommunityConnect app is designed to facilitate open and efficient communication between law enforcement personnel and the community members they serve. Once the app has been installed on their smartphones or tablets, citizens can create a profile and receive emergency alerts distributed by local, participating public safety agencies. CommunityConnect also provides community members with a convenient way to submit non-emergency requests for service to participating agencies, as well as anonymous tips.
The rapid dissemination of information in an emergency can be the difference between life and death for citizens. CommunityConnect allows participating agencies to send alerts regarding emergencies such as active shooter situations, severe weather conditions, missing or endangered persons, and even traffic conditions and road closures directly to community members’ mobile devices, providing citizens with vital information without tying up dispatch resources.
The CommunityConnect app also enables members of the community to easily submit non-emergency requests for service or tips, such as vandalism or stolen property, to participating agencies, either anonymously or by creating a personal profile within the app. This increases efficiency by allowing agency personnel to determine the urgency of each non-emergency request, schedule the necessary response, and maintain convenient and ongoing communication with the citizen through the app. CommunityConnect can also help increase efficiency for emergency dispatchers by freeing 9-1-1 lines up for more urgent incoming calls.
Using CommunityConnect to submit non-emergency service requests or tips to law enforcement agencies also enables citizens to provide law enforcement personnel with additional resources such as photos and video clips captured using the smartphone or tablet. CommunityConnect also uses the GPS technology built into mobile devices to provide responding personnel with accurate location information for each submitted request and gives users the option to choose between “Use my location,” “Pin on map,” and “Describe location” when entering the location. These attached files and the detailed location data submitted along with the service request helps responding officers and speeds up the investigation process.
Check with your surrounding public safety agencies or visit their websites to learn whether they are participating in CommunityConnect.