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DPD to offer Citizen Online Reporting System starting November 1
WILLIAM NORTHCUTT
Staff reporter
Starting November 1, citizens will be able to use an official Dyersburg Police Department (DPD) website to report particular non-emergency calls. DPD Sergeant Stan Langley and Lieutenant Kenny Jowers gathered officers and staff on Thursday, October 17, to learn about the Citizens Online Reporting System. When live, it will allow the public to report non-emergency situations--“minor incidents, tips or information, and it will allow the public to respond to requests for public investigation assistance.”
Langley said, “It’s a plus on each side. Good for freeing up officers who are on other calls and for giving citizens a faster way to report these crimes.”
Jowers stated that the system allows citizen to report tips anonymously or by name. People can report shoplifting incidents when the shoplifter is no longer on premises, “delayed” vehicle accidents, trespassing incidents where the trespasser is no longer on site, harassment complaints when said harasser is no longer on site or the harassment is not occurring at that time. A delayed vehicle accident, he explained, occurs, for example, when a driver crashes into a car at a parking lot but is gone when the victim owner gets to their auto. He noted, “Citizens will be able to report to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID).” A link to the State’s reporting site will be provided as well.
Each report will be reviewed immediately by an officer. Jowers said, “There are two tiers: an officer will review and decide whether to keep the report on record,” or, he continued, “in the second tier an officer will follow up and respond.”
He said that citizens can choose how to be contacted—phone or email.
Jowers and Langley were quick to note that these reports are for non-emergency situations.
The DPD chose as their vendor Tailorbuilt Solutions, an IT company with headquarters in Hernando, Mississippi. Partner Joel House said that his company tailor-designs the systems for different cities. “Dyersburg is a unique place, and we tailor our program our software for each municipality.” He said that his partners and all of the staff have had long-term careers in law enforcement and security.