March 9th, 2014: East Pennsboro police chief recommends modern crime-fighting technology
May 09, 2014 10:30 am • By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger, The Sentinel
EAST PENNSBORO TWP. — East Pennsboro Township Police Chief Todd Bashore recommended approval of the CRIMEWATCH Network Municipal Police partnership Program Wednesday night’s meeting of the township board of commissioners.
Matt Bloom, CEO and founder of CRIMEWATCH Technologies, based at the Murata Business Center in Carlisle, presented the commissioners with details on the benefits of the program, saying 11 Dauphin County police departments currently use the service.
The program, which is expanding into Cumberland County, will enable East Pennsboro to participate in a universal database, according to Bloom. “This creates a workforce multiplier effect,” he said. “If East Pennsboro starts investigating a burglary, other police departments will know.”
Described by Bloom as an “all-inclusive web solution,” the service will provide a dedicated newsfeed detailing arrests, warrants and other crimes. In addition, the public will have the opportunity to offer anonymous tips.
Detailed crime mapping will be included as part of the service and all content will be pushed out to Facebook and Twitter, as well. The public can sign up for free access to information and email alerts, and Bloom said a mobile application soon will be launched.
Other community-related information will be provided, from topics ranging from road closings to street cleaning, and positive stories like police commendations, which “tend to gain traction,” Bloom said.
“All our information will be out there for everybody to view; I think it’s the way to go,” Bashore added.
The service is estimated to cost approximately $10,000 dollars for a three-year contract, and commissioners have agreed to review the information for a vote in the coming weeks.
