Police Mobile Apps: Improving Policing Through Information Technology

Cop App

What is a cop app? A cop app is a smartphone application that is made specifically for police to use to connect with their co-workers as well as with their respective communities. The majority of adults in the US own a smartphone equipped with apps. It is for this reason that an app for police is so easy to implement into a law enforcement infrastructure. An app adds another way for law enforcement to communicate with each other as well as the public they serve.

A cop app such as UCP Police from StackBench, equips law enforcement personnel with a convenient way to pass on information to other officers. For instance, before applications, an important memo would be typed out, handwritten, emailed, or passed through word of mouth to each cop on duty. However, with a police mobile app, a supervisor can write a memo in email form or message form and with a touch of a button send out the information in seconds.

Furthermore, the UCP Police app also has a feature that allows supervisors to see who has read their memo and who has not. This feature not only keeps law enforcement personnel accountable but also lets command staff know who still needs to receive the information.

Technology is constantly changing and advancing the way businesses work and the way people connect. Public safety can also benefit from the use of technology as it is a cost-effective way to engage the public and provide alerts and posts regarding incidents. When the public is aware of a particular situation citizens can be on the lookout for suspicious activity and can let law enforcement know about anything that may be related to the incident. Implementing technology into policing can generate leads faster which may increase apprehension of a subject.

Strengthening Police

Communication is the key to success in every relationship, whether it be personal or business. Law enforcement is no different in that strong communication can enhance public safety for officers and the citizens they work so hard to protect. When there is strong communication there is also a better connection between co-workers and more trust built. The same can be said about interactions between law enforcement and citizens. In recent years, studies have shown there are positive results when a law enforcement agency participates and is active in community policing. This is because the more transparent a department is the more likely the public they serve will trust and assist them.

Trust within a community can help citizens become more comfortable with their local law enforcement. In turn, when police need help from the public, when there is trust built within the community, citizens are much more likely to reach out to police and provide tips and potential leads. A police mobile app can make a large impact on how often the public exchanges information with law enforcement. For instance, the app for police, UCP Police provides citizens with a direct form of contact to their local law enforcement. There is even an anonymous option so concerned citizens can report an incident they have witnessed without drawing attention to themselves. Having a direct point of contact not only makes it more convenient for citizens to report what they see but also enables police to obtain information much more quickly. The faster law enforcement receives the information, the faster they can respond to a call.

Law enforcement personnel can also potentially obtain more information as well by reaching out to the public. For example, if a law enforcement agency is looking for a suspect or a suspect vehicle, they can reach out to the public by making a post through social media. With a cop app such as UCP Police, command staff can make a post to many social media outlets at once. Requesting public assistance for intel on a case has proven to be helpful for many police departments. Often citizens will have information related to a case that law enforcement has not found yet. Additionally, law enforcement can share information with the public regarding an ongoing situation. For instance, if police are handling a large crash, an alert can go out to the public letting them know not to take a particular route until the roadway is clear.

Information that is exchanged between police and citizens helps to maintain situational awareness and enhance public safety overall. Information, communications, and technology are all powerful tools. Solid and successful police work thrives on strong communication and good information.

A police mobile app can decrease response time for law enforcement as well. Though traditional forms of communication between police and citizens are still valid such as radios, landlines, and emergency call centers, a cop app cuts the time in half which means first responders can obtain information quicker and respond accordingly. When response time is decreased, public safety increases.

A police app such as UCP Police offers exact GPS coordinates for first responders to follow up on. For instance, if a message is sent through the app from a citizen but they are unsure of their exact location, the app can provide law enforcement with the GPS coordinates of the person sending the message.

Connecting Communities

Law enforcement agencies and their communities benefit from the use of a mobile police app. An app such as UCP Police can enable police departments to help their citizens in other ways by providing resources through a police app. UCP Police is customizable so that the public can look up specific information about their local police department. There is also a category set up specifically to provide citizens with information about the Police Chief. The more a community knows about their law enforcement and command staff, the more likely they will approach police with helpful information and the more apt they are to trust their local law enforcement.

In addition, an app for police allows law enforcement to offer their citizens helpful resources regarding safety, health, and wellness. The UCP Police app has a section with the ability to upload webinars with community resources.

Having an app available for a smartphone provides both police and the public with an easy, effective, and efficient way to exchange information. An application is a platform that most people are familiar with and having a direct line of communication with local police through a cop app positively impacts communities.

Most people will look to their phones for information whether it be social media platforms, news outlets, or applications. For this reason, offering citizens a free app where they can gather and exchange information with police is beneficial to everyone. Technology is the go-to way to contact someone, relate a message, or find out what is going on within the community.

Just as a community social media page offers intel and information regarding city events, a police app can become the go-to place for individuals to find out about areas involving police activity, or potentially dangerous situations they may need to avoid.

Where to Find an App

Police mobile apps such as UCP Police are budget-friendly for police departments and are free to the public. An application is a convenient way to relate information to the public and a cop app such as UCP Police comes with automatic updates, so the department does not have to schedule a designated time to update the application.

Police and the public benefit from transparency and community policing. The more everyone knows about an incident, the more situationally aware citizens and police can be. Situational awareness enhances public safety overall. A mobile police app such as UCP Police helps create trust within a community and makes it easy to exchange important information. People are more likely to see, respond to, and remember alerts they see that are delivered directly to their phone. Being able to view alerts from law enforcement through a police app can help remind the public that law enforcement is approachable. Citizens who are comfortable enough to approach police are more likely to trust first responders and may be more willing to relate important information to them.

More information regarding UCP Police may be found on the StackBench website. Command staff, first responders, and citizens all benefit from a cop app. Take a look today and see how UCP Police and its technology can help your department do its best to protect citizens and co-workers.