Courtesy photo/SDPD. South Daytona Police Chief William is an advocate of online crime mappingfor safer neighborhoods.
SOUTH DAYTONA -- For decades, police tracked crime trends by sticking color-coded push pins into a map, but here in South Daytona, a newly launched on-line crime mapping system brings that practice into the digital age and the public can now access it for free.
In cooperation with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Crime Mapping program tracks crime in 14 different categories in participating cities.
South Daytona residents can access this information through a link at the city’s Web site at www.southdaytona.org. From the home page, select the government pull-down menu on the top of the page, click on police department and then click on the Crime Maps icon on the right side of the screen.
Keeping the public informed about crime in their neighborhood has proven effective in reducing crime, Police Chief William C. Hall said.
“This new program allows everyone to view incidents within a matter of hours,” Hall said. “With a click of the mouse we, and thepublic, can track trends and incidents with a neighborhood, the city or even surrounding jurisdictions.”
Users can view crimes plotted out on a map within a specific geographic area, date range or by crime categories.
The program is updated twice daily through the computer dispatch system and tracks arson, assault, burglary, disturbing the peace, drugs and alcohol violations, DUI, fraud, homicide, car theft, vehicle break-ins, robbery, theft, vandalism and weapons.
Due to privacy issues, sex crimes are not included on the crime map.
Residents can also register for e-mail crime alerts.