The city has released a new mobile app aimed at making it easier for the community to report and track crimes. Reno Public Radio's Julia Ritchey reports.
Called myRPD, the new app is meant to boost community policing by making it easier for regular citizens to report crimes.
"It puts it all in one place, makes it really easy to access and it gets our community to engage with their police department," says Reno Interim Police Chief Jason Soto.
The app will have interactive crime mapping and registered sex offender information. Users can submit crime reports in English or Spanish or anonymously connect to the Secret Witness program to submit tips or report suspicious activity.
There’s also a place to submit complaints or compliments to Reno PD's internal affairs division.
City Councilman Oscar Delgado says this tool will be important for communities such as north Reno that have seen a recent uptick in crime, including a recent shooting involving two teenagers.
"The incidents that took place at Pat Baker Park, I think this may be something of value in the sense that we try to empower the community to have more eyes on the street and call in information to the City of Reno," he says. "And this is just one of those extra resources."
The city spent $35,000 to develop the app in-house. It’s available on both iPhone and Android phones.
