Pullman PD launches app to connect with citizens

The Pullman Police Department last week became the first agency in the state to launch the use of “MyPD,” an application available on iOS and Android devices to connect police agencies with communities.

The “MyPD” application has more than 350,000 downloads and is connected with approximately 200 police agencies nationwide. The app allows users to view contact information for local police departments, submit tips, commend officers, ask questions, give feedback, view a department’s website and social media pages and receive notifications for local alerts, as well as call the police department without having to look up the number.

“We encourage the public to sign up for it because we want to be able to reach out to community, and we feel that this is going to expand that,” said Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins. As of Monday, there have been 216 downloads connected to the Pullman department.

Citizens can submit tips on drugs, crimes and other topics with a name and contact information, or anonymously.

“We thought that was an important feature to have,” said Chief Jenkins. “Some people just don’t want to identify themselves.”

The feature allows a user to submit a tip with or without a photo and with information that includes the location of incident, any involved vehicle, names and race/gender descriptions.

A notice on the app also tells users to report a crime in progress by calling 911.

“We don’t encourage anyone to use the app for anything that’s in progress or urgent,” he said, noting the department checks the app a few times a day, and sometimes longer.

Under the questions and feedback section, users can seek answers to questions about animals, city codes, parking or other topics. It also includes an “ask the chief” option.

The app can connect users with the national sex offender registry, most wanted lists and weather services. Users can create a profile or use the app without a profile, and also set notification settings. It also includes a how to guide for using and all of its features.

Some of the other features include viewing live traffic and construction delays in Pullman, department press releases, viewing Whitman County jail information, state missing children listings and access to active Amber Alerts.

Jenkins said the department has already received some feedback and has also been able to put out a road closure notice. He said users have reported things such as cars speeding through neighborhood streets and a compliment about the recent walk for justice event held on the WSU campus.

Colfax officer Jaelene Bryan told the Gazette the Colfax Police Department is looking into being added to the application. The department started looking into it last week after learning the Pullman department was utilizing it.

“We are looking into the costs with joining it,” she said. “It looks like there is a lot of features with it that would be useful.”

Officer Bryan said the department recently launched its Facebook page, Colfax Police Department, and is hoping for citizens to connect with them there. The app, she said, would be another good addition.

“It sounds very much like something that would be nice,” she said. “It would be a very big benefit.”

Chief Jenkins said the department is going to continue to promote the application and will be at the Lentil Festival in August promoting it.

“We’re going to take advantage of opportunities to let people know about this,” he said.

Users who wish to be connected to the Pullman Police Department through the application must download it and then set it up by selecting their country, state and then city. With Pullman being the only policy agency statewide to implement the use of the application so far, it is the only option in the drop down menu once Washington is selected. The application is free to download and use.