RIVERDALE PARK

RIVERDALE PARK

CrimeReports.com to Include Town Incidents

Riverdale Park is participating in CrimeReports.com, a free Web site that displays incidents reported to police on an interactive map, Mayor Vernon Archer and Police Chief Teresa Chambers announced.

The town pays $99 monthly for the service, whose map allows residents to see where a crime reportedly occurred, Archer said. Only the police department will be able to enter information into the system. Montgomery County is the only other Maryland jurisdiction to use the Web site.

In addition to keeping residents informed, officials said, the site will be a visual tool to help police officers identify, focus on and address problem areas.

"It reminds me of the days of 'Hill Street Blues,' "Chambers said, referring to the 1980s television police drama. "The last thing that they said was, 'Check your pin maps and hit the street.' And that worked."

Each morning, town staff members will publish incidents from the day before, providing nearly real-time information, including the type of incident, the date and time it happened, the block where it occurred and any other helpful information. Chambers said she eventually wants to add suspect information and photos.

"We want to put the information out there to help the residents," she said.

Mount Rainier Police Chief Michael Scott said he plans to use CrimeReports.com in his department. Having a visual tool will help officers identify where they need to focus their patrols and help them be more effective, he said.

Archer said he hopes all of the surrounding jurisdictions will soon begin to use the service. Riverdale Park plans to enter information going back one year.

"It's rare to be able to find a tool that both increases the amount of information available to the people of the community and also make the police department better able to do their job," Archer said.

-- MAYA T. PRABHU, Gazette Staff Writer