The Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) has launched its free smartphone app to improve communication with the citizens it serves and increase responsiveness to crime in the community. Users of the Chattanooga PD Mobile receive important safety alerts, view CPD social media sites, find department contacts, and submit anonymous crime tips.
“CPD Officers find many community members want to help police, but prefer to keep their identity private.,” said CPD Chief David Roddy. “The Chattanooga PD Mobile app addresses that by allowing tipsters to remain anonymous. Also, there is no monitoring in any form by the department to anyone who downloads the app.”
The Chattanooga PD Mobile app is one of the many technology advancements CPD’s made in recent years to become a more progressive, responsive, and transparent department. “The Police Department’s new mobile app is one more innovation that helps better connect the people of Chattanooga with the men and women who keep them safe,” said Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke. “Communication and responsiveness are at the heart of any effective public safety strategy, and this new technology significantly improves both. I’ve already downloaded CPD’s app to my phone and I encourage everyone in Chattanooga to do the same.”
The app is available for download on Apple and Android devices. It was developed for CPD by Mobile PD, a mobile app developer for law enforcement and public safety. The company works with about 100 other agencies across the country and in Canada. CPD received $40,000 in grant money to pay Mobile PD to develop the app and will pay the company $15,000 annually to maintain and update the app.
Officials said, "The Chattanooga Police Department is committed to building strong relationships across the community in order to keep you, your family, and our community safe. The Chattanooga Mobile PD app is another way for the department to increase accessibility, transparency, and communication with members of the community we serve. Find the app in Apple and Android app stores by searching ‘CHATTANOOGA PD MOBILE.’ The Chattanooga Police Department will be adding features in the future so please select automatic updating when you download the application."
The app is not designed or intended to replace 911, which residents should still call immediately if there is an emergency or a crime in progress.
A video demo is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q-URSyf5N4i9D95H23grat5IU2LfA40u/view?usp=sharing