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Sheriff's crime app is first in nation

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By: THE MURFREESBORO POST

Posted: Sunday, September 23, 2012 12:00 am

Sheriff's crime app is first in nation | Rutherford County, Sheriffs Office, App, Technology, RCSO

Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office is the first county in the U.S. to allow citizens to learn about emergency situations through an improved mobile phone app with iPhones, a supplier spokesman said Friday.

The free app through Appriss Inc. allows the Sheriff’s Office to distribute photos of missing children and adults or to inform residents about emergency conditions, said Director Tim Lee of Appriss Inc., mobile division.

For example, the Sheriff’s Office may place a photo of a missing child or adult on the app and the user will receive a flashing red alert. The information may allow citizens to spot the vehicle transporting an abducted child and call 911 so deputies can recover the missing child.

“That is the most powerful emergency alert tool put in any iPhone app I’ve seen,” Lee said. “I can’t wait until I receive a call that the app saved a life.”

The phone app is free without cost to the taxpayers, the director said. The service is paid by attorneys and bail bondsmen who advertise on the site. The iPhone app may be downloaded by searching “TNRutherfordSO” on the App Store. It may be downloaded on the Android App by searching “TNRutherfordSO” on Google Play.

Sheriff Robert Arnold said the app will be used to inform citizens about traffic crashes, road closures, evacuations and other emergency situations. The app also allows victims to receive information about offenders through the Victim Information and Notification Everyday system. Users may also gain information about suspects arrested, warrants, the Most Wanted criminals, sheriff’s Facebook and a telephone directory for the sheriff’s office.

Lt. Larry Pace, who coordinated the app for the sheriff’s office, said the alert function should be operational in a couple of weeks. Also, sex offender information will be added in the future.

“People can look at the Most Wanted list, victims can be notified of inmate releases and they can go on this app and report a crime,” Pace said.

Lee said in the 24 hours after the Rutherford County app went online Tuesday, 205 people downloaded it in Tennessee and nine other states. He expects 3,000 to 4,000 downloads in the first two weeks. Upgrades are free.

Citizens are expected to use the app on a daily basis on mobile phones and iPads, the director said.

Sheriff Arnold “will be the envy of every sheriff in the country, no doubt,” Lee said.

Tagged under App, RCSO, Rutherford County, Sheriffs Office, Technology

Member Opinions:

By: bmw4m_mtsu_f12 on 9/23/12
This is an absolutely fantastic idea! I’m honestly very surprised that it’s an app which is only just now being published anywhere in the United States, but I’m certainly proud (and pleasantly surprised) to see it’s been invented in Tennessee! I think using better integrated technology like this is a huge asset to our justice system, and do hope to see some of these crime alerts leading to the apprehension of criminals in the future—this is something which I have no doubt will be effective!

Although quite frankly, the implementation of road, emergency, and evacuation information is something which I am personally very excited about. I can definitely see myself picking up this app (for free, nonetheless! Good call and investment there), even if only for these features. While as a whole, it seems to have a fair few features still in development, I am excited to see what they look like upon release.

This is definitely an application which I think—and hope—other sheriff’s offices will pick up on and use the technology in the future. After all, the country is becoming a vastly integrated one and it’s exceedingly important that the law enforcement system keeps up with the times. As a resident of Rutherford County, I’m happy to see that we’re taking a step in the correct technological direction.