• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Crime / Courts / Davenport unveils app for making tips to police

Davenport unveils app for making tips to police

July 17, 2013 By Matt Kelley

Davenport residents can now send tips to police using an application for i-Pads, i-Phones and other mobile devices. The free app, called “Do What’s Right,” allows users to submit anonymous tips by text or on-line. Davenport Police Chief Frank Donchez says it’s a new option for people who don’t want to call 9-1-1.

“People are afraid of being tracked or identified and then maybe retribution,” Chief Donchez says. “It’s just another avenue to do that. Have we had a problem? Yeah. I don’t think we get nearly the cooperation that we would like when we investigate crimes and so if somebody knows something and they can submit a tip that helps us solve a crime, better off.”

The tips are submitted without a phone number and can include a picture. Officers will monitor them around the clock and assess which tips are most pressing. Donchez says this could prevent tragedies like what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. He says in more than 80-percent of similar situations, someone knew something was wrong before-hand.

And over 90-percent of the time, the killer had mental health issues. He thinks the new app can address this. “It’s not just about stopping potential violence or arresting people, it’s also about getting them the help they need,” Donchez says.

“That’s part of what we’re trying to do here, get that intervention. When we identify someone with a potential problem and we will hopefully avoid a terrible situation, we also want to get that person assistance.” Similar mobile applications are being used in San Jose, California, and Georgetown, Texas.

The “Do What’s Right” app lets users look up crime reports and see on a map where crimes occurred. Davenport police will use it to send traffic updates, suspect information and other notifications. The app can be downloaded for free from the Apple Store, Google Play or the Davenport Police Department’s web site.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News

Featured Stories

Exhibit features lesser known works of Grant Wood

Testing finds 21 new CWD cases in deer

It may become a crime in Iowa to use fake urine in workplace drug tests

February trending 18 degrees below average temperature

Iowa House Education Committee votes to end tenure at UI, ISU, UNI

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa’s Jack Nunge lost for the season

Key stretch begins for #9 Iowa

Drake’s Roman Penn lost for the season

Drake’s DeVries named to Naismith watch list

State wrestling opens with limited attendance

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC