The San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD) in California is now using Specialized Police Intelligence and Data Resource (SPIDR) Tech to help better communicate with the public.
SLOPD explained that SPIDR Tech is a public safety tool used to connect with the public to keep callers apprised of the status of their complaint or report, and to gather feedback on the service provided by SLOPD.
“We are excited to provide this customer service platform to the citizens of San Luis Obispo,” said SLOPD Chief Rick Scott. “This technology will enable us to leverage data to increase efficiency, and to improve public trust and customer satisfaction.”
With the SPIDR platform, SLOPD can automatically send one-to-one text messages, emails, and mobile-friendly surveys to crime victims, reporting parties, and other members of the community. Additionally, SLOPD will also use the SPIDR platform to inform a caller of when an officer will arrive at their location and to gather feedback via a survey after a police report has been completed. SLOPD said callers reporting certain types of crime will receive a text message after completing their phone call.
While SLOPD didn’t specify which types of crimes were included in this messaging, it did say that the message will contain the date and time of the call as well as the incident number. Further, if a call remains unassigned for 20 minutes, the caller will receive a follow-up text acknowledging the delay and stating that an officer will be sent to them when one is available. To protect public safety, text messages will not be sent to callers who may be in danger if they were to receive a return notification.
On the other end of a police interaction with the public, when an officer or detective submits a police report the platform will automatically generate an email or a text message so the public can provide feedback via a short survey about their interaction with SLOPD. The public will also receive real-time updates on the status of the case and any delays that may be impacting the law enforcement response. The platform will also allow SLOPD to share information about available victim resources.
