With a new advanced mobile reporting app at their fingertips, the difference between Batman and members of the San Francisco Police Department just got a lot slimmer.
Built through a partnership with sf.city and the mobile developer ArcTouch, the app allows police officers in the field to upload images, transcribe notes, and capture audio interviews in real time. Named the “Michael J. Homer Initiative,” in honor of a San Francisco tech innovator, the program will cut the time spent reporting incidents by up to 90 percent.
“This is the bat computer,” said police chief Greg Suhr.
In addition to aiding reporting, the app will give officers instant access to the city’s crime database. Prior to the app’s development, retrieving information often required officers to return to the station.
In a press statement July 2, San Francisco mayor Ed Lee said that the program combined innovation with public safety, two of the city’s priorities. “This initiative makes our police department one of the most innovative in the world, allowing officers to utilize cutting edge technology built right here in San Francisco to keep our residents safe,” he said.
All that’s missing now is the bat signal.
