Coplogic online reporting tool
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany police department’s pilot program for online reporting of non-violent crimes is now going public. The new program is called cop logic, and it's designed to help free up police officers so they can handle more violent crimes that need more immediate response. NEWS10 spoke with police and has reactions from some community-based groups.
“And in doing that, we're now freeing up those police officers to be doing all the things we want them to be doing,” said Albany Police Department Lieutenant Bart Cohen.
The lieutenant explained that the system won’t cost taxpayers a thing after the initial set up fee. “Going forward, there actually are no costs to the department,” said Lt. Cohen.
He also says the online resource is easy to use and is already proving useful. “If we can use technology as a force multiplier that can make us more effective at our jobs.”
But some community groups involved with law and justice have their reservations. Ta-Sean, the Director of Operations at the Center for Law and Justice, Inc. questioned, “Is this software actually working in the community? But we'll see that. And as I said before, it is commendable that they're looking at some form of a way to try to address violent crime. What we don't want is this software to be a Band-Aid to prevent proactive measures.”
NEWS10 reporter James De La Fuente had the opportunity to speak to a group of kids at the Boys and Girls Club of the Capital Area who feel this program is helpful when it comes to nonviolent crime reporting. “Every time me and my friends get off the bus to come here there's always some guy in the street trying to sell people random stuff that he found,” stated Jeremiah Harris who says, “If there was an easy way like to report him like out having to call the cops to talk to the him I would fill out the portal for the report like they're suggesting.”
The program started last year and during the pilot phase, it was utilized receiving more than 1,000 reports to date.