Police increase Web presence with new pages

By Dennis Box

The Courier-Herald

The Bonney Lake Police Department has added a couple of new Web features aimed at enhancing communication with citizens.

The department's Web site is already loaded with information on domestic violence, traffic control, marine services and other topics, but interim Police Chief Buster McGehee is adding two interactive pages.

The first is a “citizen's survey” form residents can fill out online to evaluate the service provided by officers.

The survey includes a box for the case number and a series of questions about the contacting office and whether the department needs to follow up on the issue.

“It gives us an idea how we are doing,” Mc Gehee said. “It's been online about two weeks. So far, so good.”

At the City Council workshop Feb. 7, McGehee introduced the next Web site addition - an online police report.

Residents will be able to fill out complaint reports using their personal computers. The form can be saved as a Microsoft Word document on the personal computer, filled out and mailed or dropped off at the department.

Chuck McEwen, informational services coordinator, is working on setting the site up so residents can fill it out online, then print it and sign it.

The report is designed for minor problems that do not require immediately response by an officer.

“Minor vandalism, loss of a cell phone, suspicious circumstances are examples,” McGehee said. “A lot of times people just need a police report number for insurance claims.”

McGehee said a number of departments around the area are using similar forms on their Web sites.

“We are trying to do what we can to help people on the go,” McGehee said. “We want to make it convenient. Some people don't get home from work until late. It's another way to be customer friendly.”

The chief stated if the report warrants it, an officer or detective will be sent to investigate the problem.

The department will keep every report as a permanent record.

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.

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