Balancing resource intensive emergency responses with the efficient handling of lower-priority calls is a challenge for any law enforcement agency. An online non-emergency crime reporting system, as part of an alternate response model, helps optimize resources and deliver better service to your community. Below, we explore how online reporting fits into daily police operations and how it benefits everyone involved.
Comparing Response Models
Police agencies typically address non-emergency calls in two ways:
A. Traditional In-Person Response
Initial Call: A community member calls 911 or the non-emergency line.
Low-Priority Triage: If the incident is triaged as low-priority, it enters a dispatch queue.
Officer Assignment: An officer may not be dispatched for hours—or even days.
On-Scene Reporting: An officer physically visits the reporting party to collect details.
Resource Usage: On average, this entire process—phone call, dispatch, travel, and in-person reporting—takes one hour of staff time.
Cost: About $50 in salaries and benefits, plus $25 for overhead (vehicle, gas, equipment), totalling $75 per non-emergency call.
B. Alternate / Differential Response with Online Reporting
The alternate model shifts the reporting step online. Here’s how it works:
Immediate Access: Community members can file a report 24/7 from a computer or smartphone—no wait times.
Streamlined Submission: Details, including any photos or videos, are submitted upfront.
Officer Review: A designated officer reviews it asynchronously—no dispatching is needed for report-taking.
Resource Usage: On average, reviewing reports takes 15 minutes of staff time.
Cost: About $12.50 in salaries and benefits, plus $6.25 for overhead, totalling just under $20 per non-emergency call.
Each online report saves 45 minutes or equivalent of $55 in resources compared to the traditional approach.
| Traditional In-Person Response | Alternate / Differential Response with Online Reporting |
Wait Time | May wait hours or days for an officer to arrive | Immediate access to online reporting |
Officer Dispatch Needed | Yes; officer physically travels to the incident location | No; report is submitted electronically |
Reporting Process | Officer takes the report in person | Self-guided with ability to attach photos/videos |
Resource Usage (per report) | ~ 1 hour | ~ 15 minutes |
Cost (per report) | ~ $75 | ~ $20 |
Why Online Reporting Matters
Now that we’ve seen both models, let’s dive into the main advantages of adding non-emergency online reporting to your operational model.
Enhancing Community Service Quality
Your community members are your primary stakeholders. Online non-emergency reporting helps:
Improve Response Times: No more phone queues or waiting hours for an officer to respond.
Increase Transparency: Automated notifications keep residents informed about their case status, reinforcing trust.
Expand Accessibility: Multi-language options, user-friendly interfaces, and 24/7 availability show your agency’s commitment to equitable service.
Impact for Command Staff:
Boost in Community Trust: Higher satisfaction rates lead to stronger public relations and fewer complaints.
Data-Driven Communication: Use reporting metrics to highlight efficiency and responsiveness in community meetings or council presentations.
Enhancing Service for Businesses
Local businesses often face recurring non-emergency issues, such as shoplifting and property damage. Online non-emergency reporting helps:
Streamline Incident Reporting: Loss prevention teams can attach photos, receipts, and videos directly to the report, reducing the need for follow-ups.
Minimize Disruption: Businesses can file a report while continuing daily operations—no waiting hours or days for an officer to arrive.
Strengthen Partnerships: Prompt, digital communication shows businesses that law enforcement values their time and safety.
Impact for Command Staff:
Stronger Community-Business Relations: Demonstrate a commitment to local economic well-being by simplifying the process of reporting minor incidents.
Better Resource Allocation: Reduce in-person visits to low-priority incidents, freeing up officers for more urgent calls.
Enhancing Your Agency Operations
Shifting to an online system for non-emergency incidents isn’t just about convenience—it’s about strategic resource management and ensuring officers focus on what really matters: higher-priority calls. Online crime reporting enables:
Resource Optimization: Each online report saves about 45 minutes, letting you allocate more staff to higher-priority calls.
Reporting of Underreported Crimes: More accessible reporting encourages your community to report underreported crimes like fraud, theft, and even past sexual violence.
Better Insights & Analysis: Comprehensive digital data reveals trends and helps shape proactive community engagement strategies.
Conclusion
Online crime reporting is a cornerstone of the alternate response model, allowing police command staff to streamline workloads and enhance service. By directing non-emergency reports online, your agency can significantly reduce time, cost, and logistical challenges, while boosting satisfaction among community members and local businesses.
Bonus: Pro Tips for Command Staff
Quantify Success: Monitor hours and dollars saved monthly and yearly for ROI validation.
Highlight Community Impact: Track metrics like average wait times and the number of crimes reported online to showcase service improvements.
Stay Adaptable: Continuously assess and update your processes, possibly integrating new tech (like AI-assisted triaging) for even greater efficiency.