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WEST VALLEY CITY — Police are turning to technology to allow residents to keep track of crime in their neighborhood.
West Valley City announced Wednesday that its police deparment is teaming up with BAIR Analytics Inc. to create a RAIDS Online crime map for the city, showing residents what crimes have happened in their area and allowing police to alert the public about crimes as they occur.
A free mobile app is also available for iPhone users, and an Android version is currently being developed.
"Part of what we're trying to do with our citizens is just bring them up to speed and help them know what's going on," said West Valley Police Sgt. Jason Hauer. "We feel it's important to be more knowledgable and more informed about what's going on."
Police hope the new program will increase the department's transparency and allow the community to get involved, according to a news release issued Wednesday.
Incidents appear on the map once police write a report, such as for an arrest, crash or theft. Residents can also use the system to sign up for neighborhood watch reports and submit anonymous tips to police, though Hauer emphasized anonymous tips can still be submitted by phone.
"It's a very good avenue for you to be anonymous and actually give information to help the police department out," he said.
Information that appears on the map is all public record, and data currently dates back about two years, Hauer said. Each incident that appears on the map includes the option to submit a tip.
West Valley City police have faced months of public scrutiny over revelations of procedural violations in the department's now defunct Neighborhood Narcotics Unit, dismissal of more than 120 drug-related cases, the unresolved mystery of Susan Cox Powell's disappearance and the officer-involved shooting death of 21-year-old Danielle Willard.
