Virtual Police Precincts Become Reality In A Week
DETROIT (WWJ) - Virtual police precincts go into effect in Detroit in one week. WWJ's Beth Fisher reports that police say a test of the program has gone well.
Police are encouraging citizens to use a telephone crime reporting unit at home or in the precinct between 4 p.m. and 8a.m. for non-life threatening crimes:
"There will be reduced numbers of officers inside the precincts and district - those officers will be reallocated to patrol ... we will have very, very limited service available to the public," said Police Chief Ralph Godbee.
Godbee says the precincts will be open but anyone wanting to report a crime will be pre-screened and recorded over a phone - once inside the precinct - the idea being to allocate officers on the streets for serious crimes.
Godbee says citizens should call the Telephone Crime Reporting Unit at (313) 267-4600 when there is no immediate threat to life, property or public safety. The line should be used to report crimes that have already occurred.
Godbee says this system will be more service friendly and gets more cops out on the streets-- something, he says, residents have wanted.
