There’s a new online tool for Columbus residents to report crime. Here’s when it starts
A new way of reporting crime in Columbus is scheduled to start next week.
The Columbus Police Department has announced its Citizens Self-Reporting Program will begin Nov. 15. It’s part of an effort to free up officers to focus on emergency calls, the department said.
The online system will be available to report or request only certain types of information, according to CPD’s news release.
To report in-progress incidents, people should still call 911, the news release says.
The new system can be used for:
- Private property accident reports
- Accidents involving animals
- Financial crimes not in progress
- Scams
- Identity crimes
- Damaged property not in progress
- Theft, including shoplifting, not in progress
- Tips and information that citizens want to pass along
- Harassing phone calls or texts
- Lost property
- Illegal dumping
- Supplemental reports.
After the program is launched, the link will be available on the CPD’s website at columbusga.gov/police at the top of the homepage. Click on the “Citizen Self Report” button to go to the secure website and submit a report. An email with a temporary report number will confirm the submission.
“If any additional information is needed,” the news release says, “that citizen will receive another email requesting specific information. Once all of the necessary information is collected, the report will be entered into our Records Management System with a permanent report number.”
Those who call 911 about an incident that meets the criteria for self-reporting may be directed to the website.
“If the caller does not have access to a computer or is unable to file a report online, they will be directed to a report-writing officer to take the report over the phone,” the news release says.
