WASHINGTON — With so many police departments and jurisdictions in the D.C. region, it’s tough to know who to call when reporting something suspicious.
That’s no longer an issue for people in New York.
The “See Something, Send Something” campaign features a mobile app that allows suspicious activity to be reported with a picture or a note.
The information goes to the New York State Intelligence Center to evaluate whether action is needed and to determine what agency to notify. For activity that appears imminently dangerous, people still are asked to call 911.
A video promoting the app shows an experiment on a busy public street involving an open-doored panel truck loaded with obviously visible propane tanks, barrels labeled “poison” and sacks of fertilizer.
“It took four days before someone noticed the potential threat and called 911,” the video announcer states. “That’s four days too long. It’s our responsibility to pay attention.”
There is a national “See Something, Say Something” campaign that encourages people to report suspicious activity to state and local law enforcement.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security tells WTOP that any information about an app similar to the one launched in New York would come from “local law enforcement agencies” in the National Capital Region.
In fact, Virginia State Police launched the “See Something, Send Something” app in December 2013. It can be used by anyone in the D.C. region.
There are more than a dozen separate police and law enforcement jurisdictions in the metro area operating in two states and the District of Columbia.
WTOP is awaiting response from D.C. officials about a District-specific app.
Watch a video of New York’s “See Something, Send Something” campaign, below.
