ORPD could unveil public online crime mapping system this week

The Oak Ridge Police Department could unveil a new online crime mapping system this week that will publicly display incident information. That information includes crime types, dates and times, and block addresses.

“It enables the public to go online and search out crime in any area, particularly in their own area,” Oak Ridge Police Department Crime Analyst David Gordon said. “You can log in today and see what was going on.”

Free to the public, the RAIDS Online system will show crimes such as assaults, burglaries, homicides, robberies, and thefts. Sexual assaults and traffic stops will not be reported, Oak Ridge Police Chief James Akagi told City Council members during a work session Monday.

Akagi said the new crime mapping system will inform the public and show residents that criminal activity is not that bad in Oak Ridge. It will also prove that the Police Department is transparent, displaying to the public much of the same information that the police department sees, Akagi said.

“It’s just good government to be transparent,” he said.

RAIDS automatically pulls crime information from the Police Department’s records system.

Akagi said residents will “keep their eyes open” if they learn about certain crimes or trends through RAIDS. They will also be able to report anonymous crime tips.

“This will be a force multiplier for our Police Department,” Akagi said. “They will help us by giving us valuable tips.”

“It’s going to help our intelligence gathering,” Gordon said.

Residents will also be able to sign up for customized crime alerts via e-mail.

RAIDS Online is also used in Anderson County, Collierville, Johnson City, Knox County, Knoxville, Loudon, and by the University of Tennessee Police Department.

Gordon said the system will allow the public to stay informed about local and regional crime activities and trends, and it will enhance Neighborhood Watch and crime reduction programs as well as relationships between residents and the Police Department.

Powered by BAIR Analytics, the new crime mapping system provides simple access to almost real-time information, Gordon said.

Although the public can use the system for free, Akagi said the ORPD paid for the software using drug fund money. There is also a small maintenance fee, although he didn’t have specific cost information available on Monday.

Here is the Oak Ridge Police Department press release, sent out by Akagi on Tuesday afternoon:

RAIDS Online: “Real Crime – Real Time”

Oak Ridge Police Department releases crime map to public

The Oak Ridge Police Department (ORPD) and BAIR Analytics Inc. recently partnered to provide a new way for the public to stay informed about crime events and trends in Oak Ridge.

BAIR (Behavioral Analysis and Intelligence Resources) Inc. Analytics is a 20-year-old software and service company dedicated to providing public safety, national security, and defense organizations tools to analyze real-time data to strengthen partner agencies’ capabilities.

ORPD now has an online crime map called RAIDS Online that maps and analyzes crime data, alerts citizens to crimes in their area, and allows Oak Ridge Police to quickly alert the public about crimes as they occur. Other local agencies that currently utilize RAIDS software are the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Collierville Police Department, Johnson City Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Knoxville Police Department, Loudon Police Department, and University of Tennessee Police Department.

Oak Ridge citizens can view a map and/or grid with crimes in their area or neighborhood, sign up for neighborhood watch reports that automatically e-mail a breakdown of recent crime activity, and submit anonymous tips about a crime directly to ORPD.

RAIDS Online automatically synchronizes data with ORPD’s records system to update crime information online and in a mobile app.  Crime data is geocoded and displayed on a map, grid, and analytics dashboard. Basic information about the incidents, including the type of crime, location type, block-level address, date, and time are also indicated.

RAIDS Online Mobile

RAIDS Online Mobile empowers citizens to better understand crime trends and lower crime in their area. Recent incidents are displayed on a map or listed in a grid, and users can click on an incident for more information or display a hotspot map based on the crimes that are currently displayed.

Users can also sign up for neighborhood watch reports that automatically e-mail any recent crime activity on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule.  The RAIDS Online Mobile app is accessible anywhere from a user’s mobile device and is available for free from the App Store.

Anyone can visit Oak Ridge’s crime map at: http://www.oakridgetenn.org/images/uploads/departments/ORPD/RaidsOnline.htm.

“The Oak Ridge Police Department’s participation in RAIDS Online highlights our commitment to a proactive partnership with the public we serve,” said Oak Ridge Police Chief James Akagi. “We’re excited to collaborate with BAIR Analytics to provide this free service to our citizens, which allows us to analyze crime events and trends more quickly and efficiently, inform the residents of crime data in a timely manner, and ultimately improve ORPD’s ability to protect the community.”