Toronto police at your fingertips: app connects officers to public

Do you need to report something to Toronto police or have questions? There’s an app for that.

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) mobile app allows residents to report crimes and file police reports online, get information on crime in their area, obtain police releases including videos and photos, locate their closest police station, read up on safety tips, connect with virtual and neighbourhood police officers, and access news and social media feeds, to name a few features.

“The app will allow us to send out community safety alerts to you, keeping you informed of major issues, missing persons and other important information,” police Chief Mark Saunders said in a video on the app.

“You can enter a police report from the app, start an investigation for both a criminal matter and also to report local neighbourhood issues and driving complaints.”

However, police emphasize the app does not substitute calling 911 in an emergency situation.

Saunders said the purpose of the app is to leverage technology “to keep you – the community – engaged and connected.”

The app will help police be “more connected” with the city that they serve, Supt. Hugh Ferguson echoed at a news conference on Tuesday morning.

Police launched its presence on social media five years ago and “now, it’s time for an app” for the most connected city in Canada, Ferguson said.

“It only made sense that the TPS develop an app and move forward in the way that we connect with the public, particularly with victims and witnesses to crime.”

Sample screens from the TPS App. TORONTO POLICE SERVICE/Handout

The app was developed by U.S.-based MobilePD, which has worked with several large police agencies in Canada and the United States. TPS also received a grant from the Ministry of the Attorney General to develop the app.

“We’ve seen time and again how enhancing access to services improves public safety and transforms the relationship between the police and the citizens,” Kushyar Kasraie, CEO of MobilePD, said at the news conference.

Ferguson said the app will help police’s relationship victims and enables the public to report crime, especially cases of “under-reported crime.”

“We need you to report incidents so we can respond and keep your neighbourhood safe,” Saunders said.

Ferguson said this the first release of the app with updates and more features to follow. It is currently available for download for iOS and Android devices with BlackBerry and Windows to follow in the coming weeks.

Below are some of the app features:

Community safety alerts
Ferguson said the operations centre will send out such alerts as push notifications when “there is a major event in the city,” such as Tuesday’s morning shooting at Muzik nightclub.

Finding nearest police station
This will allow Torontonians, visitors, victims of crime and witnesses to find out how they can get to their local or closest police station “in text and by map.”

What to do after a crash
Provides information on the nearest collision reporting centre and a collision checklist.

Virtual police officer
Answers common questions from victims and witnesses to crime, such as “my home and business has been broken into. What should I do?”

Neighbourhood officers
People living in a given area can contact the officer by email, but Ferguson points out that these officers don’t work 24-7.

Ferguson said this does not substitute a call to 911, but is “simply for somebody who wants to pass on information for crime or other events happening in their neighbourhood.”

Filing online reports
With the ability to file a police report directly online, Ferguson said this has the potential to bring other victims forward.

Online traffic complaints
Similar to filing a police report, people can file traffic complaints if a driver is speeding on their street, running a stop sign, etc.

TPS feedback
The app will take the user to the Office of the Independent Police Review Director’s website and file a complaint.

“You can obviously compliment us, we like to get lots of them,” Ferguson joked.

City resources
What to do about a neighbour complaint or if a tree has fallen after a storm, information on garbage pickup, etc.

Crime Stoppers
If residents want to leave information about suspects or find out details on a wanted individual. It takes users to the Crime Stoppers app.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today