East Chicago police hope to reduce crime with Atlas One app

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (WLS) — The East Chicago, Indiana, police division is hoping to cut back crime on metropolis streets not with additional patrols, however with a classy cellphone app.

“We need to make certain the general public feels secure speaking to us, and that they belief we aren’t going to launch their data,” mentioned East Chicago Police Division Chief Jose Rivera.

Rivera mentioned his division is now utilizing the app Atlas One to hopefully construct bridges with residents whereas additionally preserving them safer, all in real-time. East Chicago is the primary metropolis in Indiana to make use of the app.

“As a substitute of seeing a police automotive and never understanding what is going on on, we are able to really inform them there have been photographs fired; there was a theft, may need been a murder – one thing they should be aware of, which is able to hold them safer that understanding within the space they reside in, one thing occurred,” Rivera mentioned.

The app’s know-how permits ECPD to ship location-based push alerts to residents if an incident is unfolding, notifying these particularly affected, with out creating citywide panic.

“What we did is a six-block radius, and we are able to do it farther our relying on the severity of the crime,” Rivera mentioned. “We’ll be instantly asking for ideas whereas we’re there, and we are able to have a look at the cellphone whereas we’re there and see if any ideas are coming in.”

These essential ideas might be submitted straight from a person’s cellphone utilizing the app, permitting a witness to ship footage and movies to the division, all anonymously.

“You possibly can nonetheless speak with the police and tackle your considerations with out anybody understanding who you’re, and that is going to assist hold our metropolis secure, your neighborhood secure,” Rivera mentioned.

Atlas One already acquired good use in East Chicago inside hours of its launch after photographs had been fired in a neighborhood.

“No person was hit, no property injury, however we instantly notified the residents in that space,” Rivera mentioned.

Rivera mentioned he hopes a majority of East Chicago downloads Atlas One to play an element in rising public security. He and his officers might be visiting totally different neighborhoods and companies throughout East Chicago beginning Tuesday to coach residents on the app and encourage them to obtain it.