By J

April 23, 2010 8:01 AM | Link to this

This is just a bad idea. First, there’s nothing to substitute for timeliness. Second, there’s nothing like an officer’s experience to read a person’s actions as they give a report. Online filing eliminates that and, as we all know, it’s really easy to lie online.

By TRS

April 23, 2010 9:54 AM | Link to this

In limited circumstances, such as non injury auto accidents with no question of fault, probably not a bad idea.

By Retired Sgt

April 23, 2010 10:34 AM | Link to this

Reports are already being taken over the phone. The Telephone Reporting Unit, or TRU, has been in exhistence for about 15 years. citizens have been given the option of doing a report over the phone, or waiting for an officer to respond to their location. This is nothing new. The TRU would take reports generally of a low priority nature, with little to no suspect information. Criminal damaging and GTA’s without suspect information or evidence at the scene. The PROS to this is that it frees up more time for officers to repond to more serious crimes in progress. It also allows the citizen to have a report done more expiditiously, instead of waiting for hours in many cases for an officer to respond. The only thing that will change is that certain designated crimes WILL now be directed to TRU. The choice factor is taken out. Crimes like assault, robbery etc will still be handled by an officer responding to the scene. The only difference is that certain designated crimes will no longer have an officer respond. I would also encourage the Chief to look at the Traffic Accident Response Policy. Unless there are injuries involved, officers should do no more than an accident memo in lieu of a standard OH-1 traffic crash Report. The memo still notes fault, but cuts the officers time by 75% over that of a standard crash investigation. The TRU allows the officers to remain of the street, ready to respond to emergencies as they pop up. A very good program. With diminishing manpower, the luxuries of having officers respond to every little situation or gone. Law Enforcement is there to take care of emergencies, solves crimes, maintain order. It is not to respond 15 times to the same address because you ant get along with your neighbor. The days of having a squad/officer to handle every little type of offense are over. This is not a bad thing. It is a good use of taxpayer money that has advantages for both the Police Department and the community.

By amy

April 23, 2010 11:10 AM | Link to this

DDN, why not give the whole story or details ? Only certain situations will be able to use an online police report filing. Don’t let people assume they’ll never have an officer come out.

By Amazed

April 23, 2010 11:25 AM | Link to this

Retired Sgt hit the nail on the head. This is basically a cost saving tactic. All police departments are struggling with shrinking manpower and officers must be used for more serious calls. Wait another year or two and its going to be much worse. IF you think crime is bad now, you aint seen nothing yet!

By Leon Harrison

April 23, 2010 6:09 PM | Link to this

No. Anonymous, gutless nutless accusations and tips are always suspect. On the net, anybody can be who or what they want to be and attack with or without a lack of facts, which are hearsay, by the way, not admissable in court, of course. Go and make those hateful statements in person and sign them.

By dixiechickbs

April 23, 2010 7:46 PM | Link to this

I would rather have officers available for higher priority calls and if that means we utilize the internet for low priority calls I am all for it. I live in the City of Dayton and I think it is an excellent idea.

By marie

April 23, 2010 9:48 PM | Link to this

Last time my car was broken into I was told by the police they were not going to bther sending anyone out for a report because they wouldn’t be able to get evidence anyway. Seven of us on one block were broken into in one night. They said there was no point in coming out to any of them. So reporting over the internet will be no different. At least then a report can be some what made.

By mrbyron

April 23, 2010 11:45 PM | Link to this

Most police officers will take investigate reports of stolen merchandise with an estimated value of 5,ooo or better.I believe people should have the option of doing so, however it should be the aggression of the police department who set the guide lines and limitation.

By horace

April 24, 2010 8:06 AM | Link to this

Sure, I’d do a report over the internet if they’d let me submit my own evidence over the internet and then if they’d let me shove the bad guy I catch breaking into my car over the internet, maybe they’d send me a judge by email and I could have trial in my front yard?

By ken smith

April 24, 2010 8:44 AM | Link to this

this is just another way of taking more officers off the street, just like these store with all of these self check out lines,1 person can watch 4 lines when they had 4 people working.

By fortressdayton

April 24, 2010 10:35 AM | Link to this

No, for obvious reasons. We pay taxes for a reason.The internet is NOT secure and the chances for abuse are enormous. Police reports would generate the interest of the morning’s E-mail barrage…

By NoWay

April 24, 2010 2:15 PM | Link to this

Agree with fortressdayton. The internet is NOT secure. Also, servers crash, systems get hacked, etc. There just needs to be more practical support for law enforcement all the way around.

By safemommy

April 24, 2010 3:22 PM | Link to this

i agree with noway although its sounds like a way to take some of the stress off the police, it will also make it easier for the crazy people out there and you know who you are to make accusations that are crap . in the world we are living in the low cost route of doing things will end up getting us in the butt if we don’t slow down and take a look at the big picture so to speak . the easy way is not always the best way .

By Boomer0502

April 24, 2010 5:32 PM | Link to this

As Retired Sgt. said, these will be TRU based calls, IE calls with no suspect info, calls that are going to going now where, never see court etc. If you have information that may solve the crime, they will come out, if it is a paper only call that is for documentaion only, there is no need to send an Officer out to take that peice of paper. For those of you that say you pay taxes, you should have Officers come out. Less than 10 years ago there where 505 Officers in DPD. Now there are less than 390 and they(the city) want that number at 325 or less. You cannot take away 35% of a Police department and expect the same levels of service. If you want the same levels, and not be forced to do things over the internet, goto the commission meetings and let your voice be heard. If the city continues to cut Police, you will be doing most everything online or you will have to wait hours for a response! Understand, your police department has already LAID OFF over 100 officers and they want to LAY OFF 80 more in the next few years.(all they layoffs are through attrition, but still 180 less Officers than before). DPD CANNOT continue to answer the calls they way they did before, things will change, and you will rarely see an Officer for minor things, only the major issues will get a personalized response.