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| English: Pennsylvania State Police patch Português: Insígnia da Polícia do Estado da Pensilvânia (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Jan. 10, 2013
Pennsylvania State Police Launch New “See Something, Send Something” App to Help Fight Terrorism
Harrisburg– A new smartphone application has been
developed to help the Pennsylvania State Police receive reports
regarding suspicious activity that may be linked to terrorism.
The new See Something, Send Something app allows
suspicious activity to be captured as a photo or written note and sent
to the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center (PaCIC).
“This App provides concerned citizens with an
effective communications and reporting tool,” State Police Commissioner
Frank Noonan said. “The See Something, Send Something mobile app,
developed by My Mobile Witness, sends terrorism-related
tips directly to PaCIC where tips are evaluated by analysts and
assigned for investigation as warranted,” Noonan said.
The application, which is available at no cost for
iPhone and Android phone users, also includes information on what to
look for and when to report suspicious activity, along with how to
receive important alerts.
“No one knows what goes on in your neighborhood
better than you,” Noonan said. “You may see or hear things that seem
out of the ordinary and raise your suspicions -- if you see something
suspicious taking place, report it.”
“One tip from an alert citizen can prove valuable and protect Pennsylvania from a potential terrorist act,” Noonan said.
My Mobile Witness uses patent-pending privacy
protection software for safeguarding the integrity of tips and citizens’
personal information. The system allows the PaCIC to engage citizens
without tracking location or storing of personal
information. Submitted tips are immediately removed from the mobile
device and purged from the My Mobile Witness system once delivered to
the intelligence center for analysis.
Factors such as race, ethnicity, national origin,
or religious affiliation alone are not suspicious activity. For that
reason, the public should report only suspicious behavior and situations
(e.g., an unattended backpack or briefcase
in a public place) rather than beliefs, thoughts, ideas, expressions,
associations, or speech unrelated to terrorism or other criminal
activity. Only reports that document behavior reasonably indicative of
criminal activity related to terrorism will be shared
with local, state and federal partners.
“Prevention is everyone's responsibility,” Noonan
said. “We are one neighborhood, one state, one nation; and it is the
responsibility of all to remain vigilant and to report suspicious
behavior -- one report can make a difference.”
In addition to the new mobile app, people can call
the toll-free State Police Terrorism Tip Line at 1-888-292-1919 or email
tips@pa.gov to report suspicious individuals or activity.
The Pennsylvania State Police have been receiving terrorism-related tips from the public since 2003.
In the case of an immediate threat or emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Media contacts: Maria A. Finn or Tpr. Adam Reed, 717-783-5556
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