From Paper to Pixel: Revolutionizing Law Enforcement Records Through Mobile Apps

The Past and the Present

In the past, police officers had to take all notes for a case or report by hand and then type it up on a typewriter. This was common practice until personal computers became more prevalent. Even with the implementation of computers, law enforcement agencies still had to print their reports and the records department kept them in actual file folders. While there is nothing wrong with this, it does cause an issue regarding storage space.

Fast forward to the present day when everything is becoming more digital. For instance, traffic tickets used to be written by hand on paper with three copies, now they are printed from a wireless printer in the police car. In the same way, records have advanced from printed copies to digital copies that are only printed if requested. This saves on storage, and supplies, and is both economical and environmentally helpful.

A smartphone application can help immensely concerning gathering and storing evidence. Smartphone technology alone is an effective way to record videos, take photos, and make notes about an incident that took place. Smartphones even allow you to build folders and make a complete file to organize your documentation. A tool such as a mobile app for police departments takes that one step further by connecting a smartphone user directly to their local police agency. The UCP Police app from StackBench is user-friendly and designed to connect law enforcement and the communities they serve. In the past, when a concerned citizen made a police report they had to go to the police department or phone in the details of the occurrence they saw. With a law enforcement app, the public can directly message their local police and can include photos and videos. A police app can help law enforcement gather leads and evidence for a case.

Digital Evidence

Evidence in policing still consists of various items law enforcement seizes that may be relevant to the case they are investigating. Before there were digital files and storage, evidence rooms were often filled with cassettes, VHS, floppy disks, and CDs. Not too long after the era of compact discs, thumb drives became more readily available. These implements took information that was stored on a few CDs and compiled it all into one, easy-to-use place that was much smaller and easier to store. Presently, much more data and intel may be stored on USB devices and even more can be stored in the cloud. For law enforcement, this is a huge space saver. For example, the average number of photographs taken at a crime scene is in the hundreds. Before the ability to digitally store this information, actual photos had to be logged and kept in boxes. Photos can now be uploaded from a digital camera to a digital platform and stored there. Uploading photos and videos with ease is another reason a law enforcement app is so efficient.

For instance, if there is a shooting incident at a nightclub, and several patrons take photos and videos of the suspects, this could potentially be a large amount of digital evidence. Instead of having hundreds of photographs and hours of videos to store somewhere, with the UCP Police app, patrons of the nightclub could upload their videos and photos directly to the police in real time. Not only would this help with storage, but videos and photos of the suspects could help law enforcement identify and apprehend the suspects much more quickly. The ability to provide police officers with information and photographic evidence instantly increases safety for law enforcement and the public they serve.

In addition, smartphone cameras take accurate, good-quality photos. This is another advantage of utilizing mobile apps for police departments. The better the photo is of a suspect or a vehicle police need to be on the lookout for, the better the chances are of finding that person or car. An app can take a step as far as storing digital evidence as well. Before smartphones, if a citizen witnessed an incident and snapped a photo, they would either have to have it developed, print it out, or email it to their local authorities. Though an individual could still print out a photograph or email it to an agency, the ability to send it directly in a message takes a few steps making it a more efficient process. The more efficient the process is, the faster law enforcement can obtain that information. The more quickly police can obtain intel, the faster they can potentially remove a threat.

Community Help

As mentioned, implementing a law enforcement app into the daily operations of a police department can have an impact on the community and police work alike. The UCP Police app is economical for police departments to use and free to the public they serve. Providing the community with an easy-to-use solution for connecting to police may increase the likelihood of citizens contacting law enforcement when they witness an incident that should be reported.

When law enforcement is transparent with their community, it builds trust and a positive rapport with the public. Of course, there will always be some sensitive or confidential information that may not be shared with the public, but when law enforcement can share some intel it lets the public know what is happening, and it can bring a positive light to police. In addition, when citizens know how their local law enforcement is handling a situation to keep them safe, it can also bring peace of mind.

Another helpful aspect of the UCP Police app, in particular, is the option to remain anonymous. Often, a community member may want to report an incident they witnessed but may not want to divulge their name. UCP Police provides an option for the reporting party to remain anonymous. This app for law enforcement is also customizable so that the agency using the application can make it their own. GPS coordinates attached to messages are another tool that can provide law enforcement with more information that is accurate.

For example, if there is a car accident with injuries and an individual calls the police to report it, they may not know the exact location of the accident. However, with the UCP Police app, when a civilian uses the application to connect to law enforcement and let them know of the accident, their exact GPS coordinates will be shown. When police have an exact location, they can arrive at the scene much more quickly. Though police dispatch centers are still vital for police operations and communications, there can be misunderstanding or miscommunication at times, simply because the information reported must go through so many people before it reaches the responding police officer. Mobile apps for police departments provide a more direct line of communication from citizens to police which can decrease the likelihood of miscommunication.

Finding an App

There are only positive aspects to incorporating a police app into a department and its community. Community policing has increased significantly over the last decade. An app for law enforcement may encourage citizens to reach out to their local police department.

Tools such as social media and smartphone applications are the new normal for most of society. Taking platforms such as an app and making it a tool to help law enforcement obtain information is a convenient way to encourage the public to report any incidents they have witnessed. In addition, when a police department uses an app for law enforcement, they can also use this type of platform to make posts regarding information they may be looking for. The UCP Police app makes it easy for law enforcement administration to post about an incident that occurred so that the public may be aware. This provides police a way to contact the public directly about an area they may need to avoid due to heavy police activity.

To find out more about how a police app can positively impact a department and community, look at StackBench’s website for more information about the UCP Police app. UCP Police was designed to provide police and the communities they serve with a way to connect. Mobile apps for police departments make capturing, sharing, and storing digital evidence much more efficient. When a community and law enforcement work together, and exchange information, a positive rapport is built and public safety is enhanced for police officers and citizens in the community.