Kirkland Neighborhood News: Kirkland Police Department Introduces Online Crime Mapping

June 13, 2013

City of Kirkland
NEWS RELEASE
123 – Fifth Avenue
Kirkland, WA 98033
www.kirklandwa.gov

Captain Bill Hamilton
Kirkland Police Department
bhamilton@kirklandwa.gov
425-587-3405

June 13, 2012

Kirkland Police Department Introduces Online Crime Mapping
Data from case reports available through customized search

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Starting today, Kirkland residents can search various types of crime by location or city-wide through the online website www.crimemapping.com.  Through a grant from the Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority, the Kirkland Police Department can provide crime data near a resident’s home, a Kirkland business, or school to those who create an online account with CrimeMapping.com™.  Browsers can view crime incidents that have occurred within the previous 180 days.  Data is transferred from approved police case reports to the system.  The system is updated Tuesday through Friday.  Crimes types displayed include arson, assault, burglary, public disturbance, robbery, motor vehicle theft, and various other crimes.  Users can also subscribe to receive free automatic customized crime alerts via e-mail for their neighborhood.  In addition to incident data, browsers can click to crime prevention tips.  To directly access Kirkland data, go to www.CrimeMapping.com, select Washington State, and then select Kirkland or link to the portal from the City’s website at www.kirklandwa.gov/crimemapping.  

The Kirkland Police Department is encouraging residents to begin familiarizing themselves with the program.  A detail presentation is planned for the Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods on June 21, 7 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers, 123 5th Avenue.  Kirkland neighborhood associations that would like a demonstration can contact Neighborhood Resource Officer Audra Weber at 425-587-3451 or aweber@kirklandwa.gov.

“We are pleased to host this web based community crime mapping program as it promotes trust and transparency by keeping the citizens of Kirkland well informed regarding recent crime activity in the city,” notes Kirkland Police Captain Bill Hamilton.  “We genuinely want our community to be the eyes and ears of their police department and to do so, the community needs to be familiar with crime incidents where they live and work.” 

Kirkland Police officers will also be using the program to help them more easily identify crime trends in their assigned patrol districts.