In an ongoing effort to keep our communities safe, many cities around the country are adopting technology that promises to give law enforcement real-time data to act on. Augusta is one of those cities and with their recent unveiling of a new app that will put users in instant communication with police, it is hoped that many crimes can be interrupted while in progress. However, that’s only a small part of what this newly unveiled app can do for the community.
Totally Anonymous Reporting
One of the major detriments to getting reports of crimes in progress is the fact that few people really want to get involved. Sometimes it’s the fear of being retaliated against and other times it’s an unwillingness to get wrapped up in hours of time spent rehashing what they saw and/or how they came upon this information. It is well-known that the long arm of the law moves very slowly, but with an app that reports in real time, and totally anonymously, there is no need to fear either one of those above mentioned scenarios.
Prevention at Its Very Best
Consider for just a moment what all those wearable apps have done for the healthcare industry. Now people with serious illnesses and conditions can be monitored around the clock. The wearable communicates with a mobile device which immediately sends a message to the wearer’s provider. In emergency situations, a medic team can be on the spot in moments. Now equate that with this new app soon to be in use in Augusta. Sending a message through reporting a crime in progress gets immediate results without the need for human conversation. Imagine how much crime can be prevented this way? Not knowing who has the app and who can be reporting nefarious activity, it is hoped to act as a deterrent much of the time.
A Step Above and Beyond Maine’s Open Carry Laws
With only a handful of states having gun laws any more liberal than Maine, law enforcement hopes this new app will add to citizens’ rights to protect themselves. It is legal in Maine to open carry handguns and companies like Front Line Holsters find that this is one of the states from which they get a significant amount of orders. Although the right to carry a weapon in public is highly controversial in many areas of the country, Maine finds that people armed are less likely to be attacked by would be assailants. This app working in conjunction with open carry laws should take this ability to defend yourself to a higher level.
Working together with residents of Augusta, law enforcement hopes to lower the crime rate. Not only can the app allow for the reporting of crimes in progress but users will be able to report on historical, and often unsolved crimes, with the assurance of anonymity. It is one step in putting the power of protecting people and property back in the hands of the public and that is something most states would like to accomplish. It will be interesting to follow the stats over the coming years to see just how big a dent in crime this app and open carry laws have resulted in.
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AFP
