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New anonymous reporting system available |
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Tuesday, 22 April 2008 |
 | Doerr
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by JILLIAN SWORDS
News Reporter
University Police have launched a new, online anonymous reporting system for all students, faculty and staff who notice unusual activity, University Chief of Police Gunther E. Doerr, said.
A link on police.appstate.edu gives users the option to submit a report anonymously, or to enter contact information so they can be reached to provide the police with further information regarding a crime.
Doerr said the system’s goal is to increase communication between police and campus community members.
“We want to just increase the number of ways students can [get] information to the police if they’re not
comfortable going into the station or making a phone call,” he said.
Capt. Eddie J. Rector with University Police said the system has been up and running for about two
weeks and they have received several tip-offs through it already.
“It doesn’t even have to be specifically about crime,” Rector said. “It can be suspicious
activity…maybe [a person’s] behavior has changed, maybe they bought a weapon, or [are involved in]
drug activity, or something [you] know about a vandalism that occurred.”
Rector said the system could also be used for tips regarding off-campus activity.
All reports from the system are examined by three investigators with University Police.
Rector said after the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University shooting a year ago, the
university began looking more than ever at ways to encourage people who notice anything that makes
them uncomfortable to come forward.
“After Virginia Tech, people said they knew stuff about Cho, the shooter, [but] that maybe they didn’t
pass on that info, or they did but didn’t know if it was followed up on,” Rector said.
Following a number of research reports by police and universities across the nation, it was concluded,
“people would be more likely to come forward if there is the promise of anonymity,” Rector said.
However, Rector stressed that the system should be used only for non-emergent situations.
“If you see someone breaking open a car, we don’t want [you] to hop on the computer [to send a
report],” he said. “It might not be followed up on for a day or two…this is for information they’re wanting
to pass on that’s not a threat or immediate concern.”
Otherwise, the University Police emergency line is 828-262-8000.
Rector said police are hoping the system will increase the amount of tip-offs received after campus
crime alerts are sent out.
After seeing an e-mail alert about several cars at State Farm Lot being broken into, for example, a
student might remember a conversation he or she overheard prior to the incident, Rector said.
Although sexual assault is one of the most drastically underreported crimes, Rector said the system
will not usually help in such cases because victims are needed to provide evidence.
Junior accounting major Andrew P. Sanders said the convenience and privacy of the new system will
make it an asset to both students and police.
“It will make it easier [for both sides] and because it’ll be easier more people will probably start
[submitting information],” creating a more aware and informed community, Sanders said.
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