IWatchPhiladelphia

Philadelphia Police Prepare To Roll Out ‘iWatch’ App For Tips

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – “iWatch,” the mobile app soon to be introduced by the Philadelphia Police Department, is already up and running. By Diana Rocco

The App was created by Dan Elliott of “iThinQware.”

Elliott saw a need for something to centralize police information after his brother’s fiancé was killed twenty years ago on her college campus. The information wasn’t readily available that according to Elliott “a bad guy” was on the loose and she became his next victim.

Elliott says this allows for people to text or send in tip to police without ever being identified.

“At no point is the identity of the tipster ever revealed to a law enforcement agency or to anyone.”

In 2008, Elliott introduced the app, which puts all media sources of social media in one place. It allows users to send tips to the Police Department, access the department’s Facebook page, send pictures, map, locations and access police “hot sheets” complete with YouTube surveillance video of wanted criminals.

In Dallas “I watch” tips lead police to 77 felony arrests in less than two years.

The Borough of Colwyn is also rolling out the App sometime next week. Colwyn Deputy Chief of Police is hoping this will allow teens to feel more comfortable coming forward with information.

“It should send a clear message to criminals everywhere that nobody’s tolerating crime,” Colwyn Deputy Chief Wendell Reed.

Police say this does not take the place of 911.

iWatch Features With iPredict Dashboard

	Smartphone apps are free downloads from the app-store
	Track tips by user, offense, reporting area and more.
	Reports received may be auto-responded or live response (ie: Dispatch or CID).
	Search multiple variable (date, offense, keyword, UCR).
	The Dashboard can integrate to CAD to display offense, and can send tip content back to CAD for Dispatch
	Receive tips from email, online forms or SMS.
	Tips may be text, voice, image or video.
	Reports may be programmed for auto delivery to Command staff and may be in CSV, RSS or PDF formats.
	Complies with GJXML, NIEM and LEXS standards.
	Scalable to connect multiple jurisdictions, to share locally, regionally or statewide.
	Platform based architecture meets local, state & federal legal & privacy mandates

	Tips are received as email, voice or SMS but are also stored in iWatch.
	Tips are mapped on Google maps, and displayed with the text of the report.
	Tips are searchable based upon offense number, date range, keywords in text, suspect profile, vehicle, ip address or location.
	Search multiple variable (date, offense, keyword, UCR).
	Share data as text, RSS, web video, email
	Unique identifier for tip receipt permits the tip to be associated with current offenses or with new tips not related to prior offenses
	Tips may be mapped by identifying the Geocode of the phone when sending the message.
	Alerting Groups or Task Force Teams may be alerted automatically.
	Alerts may include links to Crime Maps, which can generate crime tips.
	Citizens may sign up for alerts on the phone, and in email (reverse 911 system)
	The app integrates to Facebook and Youtube to display content and alert the public.