The advent of smartphones has changed a lot of things about our daily lives. We tweet and post our Facebook status on the go, we take pictures of everything from our dogs to our food, and we can summon up a song, movie, or TV show while we’re out shopping, or on the beach.

Another thing that the smartphone has changed? Public safety. Now that almost everyone has a little camera and video recorder in her pocket, there’s a whole lot more data out there, and much of it can be valuable to public safety and law enforcement officials.

Take a purse-snatcher, for example. If someone comes up behind a woman, snatches her purse, and takes off running, there’s a good chance that someone who saw the incident will pull out their cell phone to start recording. Maybe they won’t get a shot of the thief’s face, but they may record some identifying feature, like hair, or clothes. That person would also have a record of the exact time and location at which the theft happened, whereas the victim may be too shaken to remember precise details like that.

So how can law enforcement and public safety officials make the most out of crowdsourced data?

1. Take to social media. Police departments are increasingly using social media to connect with citizens, with overall positive results. By posting images of wanted criminals on Facebook and Twitter, for example, many departments see a huge increase in the number of citizen responses, which can help lead to an arrest.

Citizens have always been an important part of keeping a community safe, whether through calls to a tip line or by responding to a missing persons flyer—today they just have more ways to engage with law enforcement, and with less effort. Departments that aren’t taking advantage of this resource could be missing a valuable opportunity.

2. Offer local citizens an app. It’s true—there’s an app for that. In this case, “that” is citizen engagement with public safety officials. Some law enforcement departments, like the Johns Creek, Ga. police department, have made use of a branded version of a public safety app that offers a real-time way to connect with the public.

Johns Creek officers can send out notification bulletins as well as report on incidents like robberies or car accidents. The app also links with the department’s Facebook and Twitter pages, allowing users to easily interact with the police force.

3. Augment social media engagement with specific initiatives, like the popular “see something, say something.” Public safety officials are no stranger to initiatives, whether that be reducing drunk driving on a holiday weekend or cracking down on rowdy late-night behavior in an entertainment district. It’s important to keep this public safety function going as you use more crowdsourced data. Share any initiatives you have ongoing in your department via the channels you have available to you, including text.
4. Employ software that will allow your department to put crowdsourced data to the best use.  An abundance of data isn’t helpful unless you’re able to organize and contextualize it. That’s where physical security information management, or situational awareness, software comes in.

This kind of security software allows for multiple people at multiple locations to view real-time data and collaborate as needed. Security software operators can pull data from social media feeds, public safety apps, and phone- and web-based tip lines. When this information is added to data that comes in on traditional channels, officers and officials can create a more complete picture of any given incident.

While public safety officials must use their judgment when investigating claims that come from crowdsourcing, there’s no question that the power of the crowd can be of huge benefit to police departments and other public safety organizations. If you’re planning on implementing physical security information management software to help reach your public safety goals, KOVA can help—contact us today!