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St. Pete police seek software sleuthing tool [Tampa Tribune, Fla.]
[September 30, 2014]

St. Pete police seek software sleuthing tool [Tampa Tribune, Fla.]


(Tampa Tribune (FL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sept. 29--ST. PETERSBURG -- The police department is seeking $141,400 to start a new unit that will focus on using computer software to detect crime hot spots and patterns.

The department is requesting $94,100 to purchase software that will analyze crime information regarding such things as locations, trends and field operations, according to a request on the St. Petersburg City Council agenda.

The department also is requesting $47,300 for furniture, equipment and supplies.

The multiyear software subscription will "quickly uncover emerging trends and gain deeper insight into key issues affecting the community," the funding request states.

Police department spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez said various upgrades will be needed to implement the unit as designed.

"In order to do this sort of unit, you have to have the technology," she said.



With a more real-time look at crime patterns and data, officers will have a better understanding of what's going on in the community.

"The idea is to get it timely, you don't have to wait until the month is over to say ... 'OK, we have an auto theft problem,'" Fernandez said. "You can start noticing patterns and start predicting and then, hopefully, preventing." The department is seeking proposals from several companies to find the best option.


There are no immediate plans to hire new personnel for the unit, Fernandez said. Instead, the department expects to shift people internally.

The department also plans to develop an application for smartphones that would be available to the public to report crimes and to look up information about recent crimes. Planning is still in the beginning stages, but Fernandez said the department hopes to have it operating by the end of the year.

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