RideAlong: the APP Makes Policing More Efficient
The 911 calling systems in the US cost more and more while the size of the population grows and the number of calls rises. In 2017, the state of Washington received 6.9 million calls, and it cost estimated 155 million to provide 911 service, which, back in 2014, was 115 million (with approximately 5.9 million calls). People with drug dependence, alcohol abuse, mental health problems, and homelessness issues are those frequently using the 911 calling services.
An app named RideAlong has been designed for SPD (Seattle Police Department) to help the law-enforcing department makes better decisions when reaching out to the individuals in crisis.
The app builds a database system that records the personal information and physical characteristics of the targeted population, who frequently involved in mental illness crisis and have the need to call 911, as well as their history of illegal activities and personal behaviors. Besides, the app could provide the police with personalized techniques and general best approaches to help them wisely interact with those individuals. Knowing all the contextual information, police officers can immediately perceive any subtle changes from the individuals’ normal behavior and make the best decisions to de-escalate the crisis.
Moreover, police officers can help connect those people with social services instead of sending them to jail, which is a better way of crisis intervention. Using RideAlong applications for one year, SPD already reduced 35% of the number of 911 calls made by the targeted individuals. It means the city policing improved its efficiency, and the operating of 911 services costs less. Since only SPD uses the app, it would serve citizens better if more charities and shelters can get connected to the app and provide more information of available resources such as free food, numbers of beds, and stable housing.
References:
https://www.fcc.gov/tenth-annual-fee-report-state-filings-0
https://www.fcc.gov/general/7th-annual-911-fee-report-state-filings
https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/14/ridealong-policing-seattle-police-department-sf-kitsap/
https://www.geekwire.com/2017/commentary-seattles-next-mayor-must-partner-tech-community/
