Crafting Mobile Police Applications to Support the Vital Role of Protecting Citizens

Ken Schul

(Retired Captain, CMPD), Director, StackBench

Having the support and confidence of the community makes a large difference for law enforcement agencies. When members of the community support a law enforcement agency it boosts the morale of police officers. In addition, a supportive community will also be more trusting with police and may be more communicative. Offering the public a way to directly contact police through a custom app for police is an effective way to offer support to the public and it is an excellent way for the public to support their local police.

Community Policing Through an App

Community policing has always been around as police officers have often interviewed citizens to find out what they may know about a situation. However, in recent years the use of community policing has greatly increased as law enforcement is now seeing the benefit of this type of networking. Within the last few years, those police departments that have implemented community policing into their daily operations have seen positive results. Community policing typically results in faster response to calls and more leads in cases in general.

A custom app for police can enhance community policing. A mobile app for a police department connects law enforcement directly with the community they serve. Providing citizens with a direct way to contact their local police through an app on their phones is an easy way to encourage the public to connect with law enforcement. For example, if an individual witnesses an incident but they are not sure whether to call 9-1-1 or the non-emergency line of their local police department, they could simply send a message through the app. UCP Police, a custom app for police by StackBench, offers this capability. Additionally, if a citizen witnesses an incident and has taken a video or photo of the event with their phone, they can simply upload the photo to law enforcement through the UCP Police app.

The ability to easily and effectively exchange information between police and citizens is the backbone of community policing. It is law enforcement’s job to uphold public safety. However, at times, help from the public is necessary. The recent police app development has taken the ability to provide police with leads a step further by including a way to upload photos. The more information law enforcement has initially, the faster they can respond to a call and apprehend a subject. For example, if a hit and run occurred in an area where there is no CCTV footage or traffic cameras, but a citizen snapped a photo of the car and driver before they took off, the photo could greatly help police find the person and vehicle.

A mobile app for police reduces the time it takes to arrive at a call as well. The UCP Police app can include exact GPS coordinates of where the citizen who sent the message is located. This feature alone is a time saver. Often when an individual calls a police dispatch center they must relate any location information to the dispatcher, who then gives it to the responding officer. A custom app for police that includes GPS coordinates means when law enforcement receives the message sent through the app, they now also know the location of that individual. Again, the more quickly police can respond to a call, the more likely public safety will be upheld.



Increasing Support

The development of a police app offers more support to the community and local law enforcement. As mentioned previously, a mobile police app increases community policing. Community policing is an excellent way to connect with citizens in the community and it is an excellent way for law enforcement to obtain tips and leads in cases or ongoing situations. One of many ways police gather information regarding a case is through intel which is often provided by citizens in the community.

When police are equipped with more information they can police their communities more effectively. Members of the community are much more likely to trust their local police when they see faster responses and more conclusions to cases. The police app development bridges the gap between a community and the law enforcement officers who patrol the streets of the community. The more a community trusts its local police the more likely they will support them. A law enforcement agency that is supported by their community has a strong morale.

The UCP Police app makes it convenient for the public to contact police regarding questions or an incident they may have witnessed. This particular custom police app even allows the citizen reporting the incident to remain anonymous. The anonymity feature is another way citizens can support their local law enforcement while still feeling at ease.

Another way a custom police app supports communities is by offering resources through the application. UCP Police is customizable so a law enforcement agency can offer specific resources that fit their community. For instance, police departments can set up the UCP Police app to offer citizens webinars filled with helpful information, as well as health and wellness resources. Policing is all about helping the community stay safe and improve public safety as a whole. By offering additional resources through a mobile police app, law enforcement agencies can put their best foot forward for their citizens.

Police app development is a game changer for police departments and how they operate. In addition to offering more to the public through a mobile police app, an app such as UCP Police can help law enforcement personnel connect more effectively too. With a police app, command staff can write important memos to other personnel in the department and ensure they have read the message with a feature that lets the sender know if the message they sent was read and by whom. This particular feature is another way officer safety may be enhanced. For instance, if a serious situation occurs on one shift and there is still an active threat, officers can be notified through the app by their supervisor. When situations are hectic, it can be difficult to brief personnel properly. However, with a police app, supervisors can make sure their personnel is aware of every situation.

The traditional ways of contacting police departments are still intact and still beneficial to officers and society. However, by adding a custom police app, law enforcement agencies can enhance their capability to police and support the public they serve. Since applications are a prevalent part of most smartphone user’s daily activities, a police app is a convenient and familiar way to communicate. A mobile police app can also decrease miscommunication. Though dispatch centers are still integral for communication, at times there can be unintentionally lost information due to the fact the information goes through several people before reaching the officer. However, a police app allows the reporting party to send a message to their local department along with photos and even videos. Certain applications such as UCP Police include GPS coordinates so police officers know exactly where their reporting party is without any question.

Choosing a Custom Police App

When it comes to choosing a custom police application, check out StackBench’s website. There you will find information regarding UCP Police as well as their UCP Sheriff app developed specifically for sheriff’s offices. When a police app is developed it is specially designed to accommodate law enforcement and the citizens they serve. Police app development brings the citizens of a community and the law enforcement officers who serve the community together.

Law enforcement agencies who use a custom police app can choose specific features to suit the communities they serve in the best way possible. Without support from local law enforcement citizens will not fully trust their local police. In turn, police departments that have the support of their communities have higher morale.

When law enforcement agencies work with the public they serve in a community policing setting more leads are found, followed, and solved. A custom police app can be the answer to connecting police officers to the citizens they serve.

UCP Police is free to the public and economical for law enforcement agencies. Communities and police alike work best together; one of the most effective ways to build this connection is through communication. Police app development has made it easier than ever for law enforcement agencies to connect with the public they serve.

Support for law enforcement not only comes from co-workers and other police officers in nearby communities. Though this type of support is helpful, having the support of the community can greatly impact a police department. At the same time, by implementing a custom police app such as UCP Police, law enforcement agencies can offer more support to the public.

Take a look at the details and specifications of the UCP Police app today and see how your law enforcement agency can enhance support for officers and the public through a mobile police app. Police app is an excellent tool to help police officers put their best foot forward.