Knoxville Mayor Daniel Brown and Police Chief David Rausch launched a crime mapping system that shares crime information with the public. RAIDS Online will allow Knoxville residents a firsthand look at crimes occurring in their city.

Chief Rausch said the RAIDS Online mapping system will allow the department to share crime information with the community while helping to reduce crime, improve public safety, and to enhance neighborhood-police partnerships. Users of the site will be able to customize the interactive maps for their neighborhood or view the entire city.

Chief Rausch said, "This is a major step forward in our efforts to keep the public informed on activities occurring in their neighborhood. The web site will be updated within the hour of the report being completed and approved, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week"

A major feature of the RAIDS Online web site is a crime tip program that will allow citizens to send an anonymous tip to KPD from the safety of their home. The information contained in the tip will then be shared with the appropriate investigator.

Chief Rausch said in addition to the crime tip program, citizens will be able to sign up for email alerts detailing criminal activity occurring in their neighborhood. The user will simply input an address and search radius to receive updates for that specific area.

"We have researched several available crime mapping programs over the last several months. The RAIDS Online web site provided the most interactive web site while maintaining an easy to navigate interface for the public," said Chief Rausch.

The activation of RAIDS Online follows the June launch of the KPD Facebook page. Since activation, KPD has tallied more than 90,400 post views.

Chief Rausch said, "The department is committed to keeping the public informed on activities occurring in their community. We will continue to explore new and innovative programs and social media opportunities to help stay connected to the citizens we serve."