Newark Police Department launches smartphone app
<p>Police in New Jersey's largest city have launched a smartphone app. The app allows citizens in Newark to provide crime tips, file reports, get information about recent arrests and make internal affairs complaints without having to go to a police station.</p>
News 12 Staff
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May 4, 2017, 12:36 AM
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Updated 2,556 days ago
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Police in New Jersey's largest city have launched a smartphone app.
The app allows citizens in Newark to provide crime tips, file reports, get information about recent arrests and make internal affairs complaints without having to go to a police station.
“Cellphones are more important than some of our wallets when leaving the house,” says Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.
The app will allow users to report crimes anonymously, which Ambrose says is an important aspect.
“A lot of times people are reluctant to report anonymously because they feel they can be tracked and they’re afraid of retaliation. This is definitely anonymous. It's free from any type of tracking back to the individual,” Ambrose says.
There is also a tab telling citizens what to do if stopped by police.
Officials say the app is part of the department's efforts to improve community trust. The department just recently started using police body cameras as well.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.
