Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. President of Waterkeeper Alliance has partnered with New York State Crime Stoppers to launch the first-ever smartphone apps to report environmental crimes.
New York State Crime Stoppers works with police, community and the media throughout New York State to fight crime by offering rewards of up to $2,500 for information leading to the apprehension and arrest of persons engaged in criminal activity within the boundaries of the State of New York
“So many people, especially young people, seem to have an iPhone or Android,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy explained the destructive nature of environmental crimes which can have a tremendous and sweeping impact not just on individuals but entire local economies.
“To be able to report crimes, including environmental crimes, with a smartphone is important,” said Kennedy.
New York State Crime Stoppers Chairman Robert Pavone was excited to bring together the Waterkeeper Alliance, The New York State Police, as well as county and local law enforcement with sponsors and the public.
“NYS Crime Stoppers new Smart Phone App will be a driving force to combat crime throughout New York State,” said Chairman Robert Pavone.
New York State Crime Stoppers Program Director Robert Keller worked with Cellflare, a leading smart phone application developer, to create the ground-breaking New York State Crime Stoppers App for smart phones .
“In this age of technology, it is very important for law enforcement to be on the leading edge,” said Keller. “This new mobile application, which is a free download for anyone with a smart phone, gives the average citizen the ability to have a crime fighting and public safety tool where ever they go.”
Keller explained how the app provides the ability to locate and get turn by turn directions to any police department, anonymously send a phone tip, email tip or a photo tip while on the go and communicate with NYS Crime Stoppers, either directly or through social media from anywhere while never giving up your identity or phone number. If citizens provide information on highlighted tips they may also be entitled to a cash reward of up to $2,500.
At a press event on Tuesday to announce the launch of the new smartphone apps Kennedy expressed his gratitude to NYS Crime Stoppers in giving the people of New York a way to help protect their precious watershed and prosecute those who violate our environmental laws regarding our water system.
Captain Lisa Loughran, NYSP, commanding officer of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for Troop K spoke of the importance of the new technology NYS Crime Stoppers has brought to the law enforcement community state-wide with their new smart phone app and of the valuable and productive relationship the New York State Police has had and will continue to have with NYS Crime Stoppers.
The New York State Crime Stopper App is available for free download from the Apple App store for iPhone, at Google Play for Android phones and coming soon at Blackberry App World. The app can also be downloaded at the NYS Crime Stoppers Web Site.
http://nyscrimestoppers.org