PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Police in Port Arthur will soon introduce a new strategy to fight crime within the city.
The Port Arthur Police Department will launch a new platform that allows residents to report non-emergency crimes and incidents online.
Through the new online non-emergency reporting service system, residents will be able to report crimes and incidents such as identity theft, property damage, or harassing phone calls.
Police consider the online platform to be a win-win. Residents will not have to file non-urgent police reports in person, and officials hope it will free up police dispatchers and officers to handle true emergencies.
“It gives us an opportunity to make it convenient for our citizens,” Port Arthur Police Chief Tim Duriso said. “It also gives us an opportunity to free up the officers for other events that may occur, and we're just moving forward. We want to be a progressive police department, and I think with us doing what we're doing we're moving in the right direction.”
Residents can go to the City of Port Arthur’s website or through the Port Arthur Police Department’s Facebook page to access the link.
“So, you'll go, and you'll click that link, and then you'll follow easy instructions on reporting the type of offense that your reporting,“ Wendy Billiot, Port Arthur Police Public Information Officer, said. “They'll be examples for you to click on. I mean it's a really easy process."
Officials said real-life scenarios that residents should consider reporting via the online link include traffic complaints, stolen property or to report vandalism.
One Southeast Texan believes this will help some of the community's more vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities and the elderly.
James Collin is a disabled vet. He had to make arrangements to get to the police station to report a crime.
"We have our elderly also in the city that we have to think about. Because there's so many scams,” Collins said.
Police hope residents will be able to use the link by March.
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