KENNEWICK, Wash. – The Kennewick Police Department and Benton County Sheriff’s Office introduced a new non-emergency online reporting website to simplify the process for residents and businesses to file police reports.
“We are trying to remove barriers and provide avenues for people to report crimes,” Benton County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Jason Erickson said. “We need to know what’s going on so that we can help solve crime. This is just one way that we’re thinking outside the box to help the community.”
The goal of the new website is to save time and allow officers to focus on active situations. After submitting a report online, the information is reviewed by police records staff. Once approved, users will receive a digital copy of their report and a case number.
“We’ve been in the process of trying to implement this for over a year,” Kennewick Police Department Commander Isaac Merkl said. “There’s a lot of work that’s gone in on the back end to make sure that it’s been ready. We’re utilizing it now. We’ve had about ten reports over the last two days. We’ll see where that goes and how we can improve as we use the technology moving forward.”
The website is intended for reporting incidents that do not have physical evidence, suspects, or involve firearms. Examples of incidents that can be reported online include abandoned vehicles, identity theft, and graffiti. Merkl said about %20 of dispatch calls can now be handled online.
“It’s important to remember this is just a service we’re offering. If you want to speak to a police officer, even if it fits that criteria, please call dispatch and request one and we will respond and handle the situation accordingly,” Merkl said.
BCSO said the Public Safety Sales Tax helped fund the program, while KPD used its station budget to pay for the program.
