Report that crime online

COEUR d'ALENE - Police officials announced Tuesday that Coeur d'Alene residents will now be able to file online police reports for certain incidents.

The citizens online police reporting system, which was funded by a United States Department of Justice grant, allows city residents to inform the police department of potentially criminal incidents that do not require immediate law enforcement personnel attention. Coeur d'Alene Police Department Sgt. Bill Tilson said that implementing the system will result in the department being able to provide better "customer service."

"I do call it customer service because after all we are paid by the residents of Coeur d'Alene," Tilson said. "It's (the online system) a way we can add a service that many people have asked for without impacting the taxpayers."

Credit card fraud, vandalism, and traffic concerns are a few of the types of incidents that fall under the scope of the new system.

Detailed instructions on how and when to use the online reporting system can be found at www.cdapolice.org, the department's website. They can be accessed by clicking on "filing a report" under "online services." Reports are filed from this page also.

Residents are asked to use the online reporting system for non-emergencies only. The incidents must have occurred within Coeur d'Alene city limits. There should be no known suspects, and the incident should not have taken place on a "state freeway."

Once submitted through the website, the report is reviewed by law enforcement personnel and then approved. When the report is approved, a copy of the official report is emailed to the reporting party.

Tilson added that the system enables residents to quickly file a report at their own convenience for incidents that they might not otherwise be willing to take the time to report. The system also lets residents remain anonymous in incidents where they may be reporting that their neighbor's dog is loose or constantly barking.

On a larger scale, Tilson said the system could lead to the department breaking open larger cases.

"Sometimes reporting something minor can be a major break in a case," Tilson said. "The minor reports will help us identify trends, which then helps us tell people what to expect."

The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office will also be implementing the same system as the city's police department. According to Lt. Stu Miller, the sheriff's office received the same federal grant in order to pay for the program.

"We are currently in the testing phase, but are looking at going live probably by the end of the month," Miller said.