Joint Base Andrews

 

JBA adds modern touch to crime reporting

By Airman 1st Class J.D. Maidens | 11th Wing Public Affairs | September 07, 2016

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- The tried-and-true method of calling law enforcement dispatchers during accidents and emergencies has been the standard for generations, but now there is a new way to report incidents to Security Forces - an app.

The 11th Security Forces Squadron has recently begun using LiveSafe, a service that synchronizes with Law Enforcement to report crimes.

"The app provides individuals the ability to report an incident with photos or videos," said Staff Sgt. Kraig Wright, 11 SFS law enforcement administrator. "The tip goes directly to the law enforcement desk for dispatch."

The tip, which can be sent anonymously, also embeds the geographic location from where it's sent.

"The Joint Base Andrews LiveSafe App is one way the 11th SFS is trying to keep up with the mobile revolution and recent trends with people's communication habits," said Lt. Col. Grant Hargrove, 11 SFS commander. "The app is a community policing reporting tool which recognizes the fact that in today's world, more and more people feel comfortable with texting and communicating via electronic media on their cellphones and smartphones."

The app is free and available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. LiveSafe is online, and updated regularly by 11 SFS for Joint Base Andrews' specific needs.
The app provides a few advantages over manually calling 911.

"LiveSafe can present police with more visual information in real time than a phone call," Wright said. "Geotagging the site of the tip can improve the response times of responders by having an exact location."

Also included in the app are law enforcement contact numbers, 911 and the line straight to the 11 SFS dispatch desk, and software that allows families to track their children and loved ones.

"With LiveSafe's anonymous reporting and texting features, it provides concerned members of JB Andrews with a more informal medium to report their safety and security concerns to Security Forces without having to make an intimidating Emergency 911 phone call," Hargrove said. "As the number of LiveSafe registered users and reports increases, the 11th SFS will gain a better understanding of the community's concerns, and we will be able to more efficiently focus our law enforcement resources to address these problem areas."

While the traditional ways of contacting emergency services will remain fully functional, LiveSafe is an alternative for families seeking better flexibility in contacting the police.