The people of St. Louis now have a new way to monitor local crime, as the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has launched an online crime mapping tool. This tool aims to improve transparency and encourage citizen involvement in crime prevention. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the map will provide updated crime data every 24 hours and will remain accessible for six months.
Mayor Tishaura O. Jones heralded the new feature as a step towards empowering residents and reducing crime in the city, she addressed the public saying, "An informed public is a safer public," the map, created using CrimeMapping.com, emphasizes that everyone can help prevent crime. It includes major incidents as well as lesser offenses that may not be covered by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program. However, certain crimes, such as domestic violence, sex-related offenses, and those involving juveniles, will be left out of the display, as reported by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Chief Robert Tracy shared the mayor's views on the crime map's importance in a statement from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, stating, "The launch of Crime Mapping is an additional information-sharing tool that reaffirms our commitment to trust and transparency." This initiative is part of a broader strategy to combat crime which has shown positive results, as St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department recorded the lowest homicide rate in a decade last year, alongside a significant reduction in overall crime rates.
Mayor Jones has taken proactive steps in policy-making by signing Executive Order No. 78 to ensure transparency in surveillance technology as part of a comprehensive approach to crime prevention. In February, she emphasized accountability, which led to the first transparency report released in May under the new order, showing a commitment to open governance and public oversight of law enforcement. With the creation of the Office of Violence Prevention in 2022 and the launch of the Save Lives Now! initiative this year, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is focusing on a multi-faceted strategy to address crime, promoting collaboration among city departments and community partners.
Wil Pinkney, Director of the Office of Violence Prevention as quoted by St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, emphasizes the mapping as a critical step, saying, "Providing up to date crime information to the public is key to building a safer St. Louis," indicating that the data will aid in effectively deploying resources for violence prevention and intervention. The crime mapping tool, along with the recent website update in June boasting a user-friendly design.
