View Palo Alto PD's CrimeReports.com mapping application
CrimeReports.com is an online mapping and analysis service provided by Public Engines, Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. CrimeReports.com combines the value of police data with the ease-of-use of Google-based mapping and an analytics module so that members of the public can view police data in a high-impact map or summary descriptive format. Members of the public may also sign up to receive free email alerts based on user-defined parameters (e.g., geography, crime types, frequency, etc.).
The CrimeReports.com service utilizes calls-for-service (CFS) data from the PAPD CAD system. CAD stands for Computer Aided Dispatch. CAD is a highly specialized application that allows for the coordinated communication, assignment and tracking of Police Department resources in response to citizen and police generated calls-for-service.
Calls-for-service data is utilized for CrimeReports.com, including the following data fields: entry date, entry time, incident number, incident location, final incident type, and final incident disposition.
Description for the CAD data fields included in CrimeReports.com:
- Incident Number (Identifier): Electronically generated by the Police Department’s CAD system, this number catalogues an incident reported to the Police Department. The Incident number consists of 9 characters (9 numeric). In the following example event number, 070731041, 07= year, 073= Julian Date (73rd day of the year), 1041= event number
- Entry Date & Time: This is the date and time that the incident was entered into the Police Department’s CAD system. In the following example, 2007-03-14 19:34:20, the event was entered on March 14, 2007 at 7:34:20 PM (note: the time is expressed in 24-hour format).
- Incident Location: This is the 100 block address and intersection information. CrimeReports.com translates address data into block level data. This means that if an incident occurs at 123 Main Street, it will show up as 100 Block Main Street in the CrimeReports.com application. Some location fields will be populated with "address could not be mapped" if the data was not geo-processed accurately.
The following table provides several examples to demonstrate the block translation process:
| Street Number | Block translation |
| 0-99 | 0 Block |
| 100-199 | 100 Block |
| 1000-1099 | 1000 Block |
| 12000-12099 | 12000 Block |
- Final Call Type: The final incident type and description
- Final Call Disposition: The final incident status is designated with one of the following final call dispositions:
| Final Dispo Code | Dispo Code translation |
| BK | Booked in Jail |
| CT | Contact Made |
| CU | Canceled Incident |
| FI | Filed Interview Card |
| FO | File Only (not dispatched) |
| IN | Information Only |
| NR | No Report |
| OL | Online Report |
| PN | Report Pending |
| RM | Report Made |
| SP | Supplemental Report |
| TC | Traffic Cite |
| TS | Desk Report |
| UF | Unfounded |
| UL | Unable to Locate |
| VG | Vandalism Graffiti |
Using the data from CrimeReports.com in support of community safety goals. Data from CrimeReports.com can be reviewed and used to improve community safety. CrimeReports.com data is appropriate to consider and discuss as part of coordinated crime prevention initiatives. Members of the community are encouraged to continue partnering and problem-solving with the PAPD while using CrimeReports.com data toward shared police-community goals.
Not every CAD incident type is included in CrimeReports.com. Non-crime or traffic related incidents are not shown by CrimeReports.co.
While most agencies furnish data to the public for only those select incidents in which a report was created or an arrest was made, CrimeReports.com offers a broader view of police-community contacts based on calls-for-service, including less serious quality of life call data. It is important to note that there may be multiple calls for a single incident in the CAD system (as compared to official crime statistics whereby each count represents one incident; please see crime statistics section below). Also, please keep in mind that CAD calls-for-service do not always equate to a criminal incident resulting in a report or arrest.
CrimeReports.com data is updated automatically once per day and contains the most recent sixty days of data online.
Information provided within CrimeReports.com is intended for the expressed purpose of educating the public on police activity in the City of Palo Alto. Beyond that intended outcome, the Police Department is hoping to enhance our partnerships with the community and is asking the public to provide the Department with any information that would assist the PAPD to resolve crimes. Follow-up information should be directed to the Police by either calling the Crime Analysis Office at 650-329-2536 or by emailing them at; pd@cityofpaloalto.org. Information of an emergency nature should be passed through the Department’s 9-1-1 emergency system.
Under no circumstances should any member of the public take any action on their own behalf as it relates to the information provided on this website, other than notifying the Palo Alto Police Department with information they wish to share.
If you have trouble using the CrimeReports.com website, click on the link below for assistance in utilizing CrimeReports.com:
http://www.crimereports.com/home/contact
The CrimeReports.com system takes advantage of advanced features that are only available in more recent versions of web browsers. To ensure an optimal experience while using the site, you may need to update your web browser. All of the listed browsers can be downloaded for free:
Windows Users
The CrimeReports.com system supports the following web browsers:
- Firefox 0.9 or newer (Firefox is recommended for best performance)
- Mozilla 1.4 or newer
- Internet Explorer 5.5 or newer
Macintosh Users
The CrimeReports.com system supports the following web browsers:
- Firefox 0.9 or newer (Firefox is recommended for best performance)
- Mozilla 1.4 or newer
- Internet Explorer 5.5 or newer
Linux Users
The CrimeReports.com system supports the following web browsers:
- Firefox 0.9 or newer (Firefox is recommended for best performance)
- Mozilla 1.4 or newer
In addition, Java script and Cookies must be enabled to use the site. These features are usually enabled by default.
CrimeReports.com utilizes Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) calls for service data. CAD incident type data is NOT the same as reported crime data. For official crime statistics, please refer to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program and related data for Palo Alto by clicking the Crime Statistics page. There may be more than one call for service for any given incident within these reports (e.g., several observers may call 911 after witnessing a motor vehicle accident, disturbance or serious criminal incident). Finally, CAD calls-for-service do not always equate to a criminal incident resulting in a report or arrest, with many calls relating to non-criminal or quality of life issues.
FAQ and other related information (e.g., company, partners, legal) can be found near the bottom of the CrimeReports.com site at http://www.crimereports.com/
Disclaimer: The information displayed on this website is susceptible to some degree of error due to the collection, entry, and geo-processing of the data. No warranty or guarantee is made nor implied regarding the content, geographic accuracy, timeliness, completeness, sequence, or accuracy of any of the information provided herein. The reader should not rely on the data provided herein for any reason. The information is provided strictly as a courtesy to the public.
To view Calls For Service Maps in your area, select the link below.
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Posted
August 5, 2011
