Folsom Police now offers online crime reporting

The city of Folsom Police Department recently launched a new system that allows residents to report a variety of crimes or complaints online. Going live as of last Thursday, the Folsom Police Department Citizens Online Police Reporting System (COPRS) allows residents to submit a police report immediately and print a free copy of the report. "I am happy that we have finally added this feature to our reporting system. Folsom is a tech-savvy community. This new feature will allow people who discover a crime to report it at their convenience,rather than wait for an officer to respond," said Folsom Police Chief Rick Hillman. Hillman added that the new system is an addition to the methods to report a crime; it does not replace the method in which a resident calls the department to file a report. While many are not savvy with a computer, there are many times a crime might go unreported by residents, due to a lack of time in their busy lives. "We know that not all crimes get reported. I am hopeful that this new capability will give us a better picture of the minor crimes impacting our community and allow us to better adjust our staff to prevent those types of crimes from happening," said Hillman. Citizens must ensure the following when filing an online citizen police report: ● It is not an immediate emergency● The incident occurred within the Folsom Police Department city limits● There are no known suspects● The incident did not occur on a state freeway● Police say the online crime reporting system is up and running to report incidents, including theft, property damage, harassing phone calls, lost property and fraud. The department provided a few examples: incidents such as harassing phone calls, identity theft or fraud, lost or stolen property, vandalism, shoplifting, vehicle tampering and theft. After residents finish submitting the report, they will receive a police report case number and the ability to print a copy of the report for their records. All cases filed using the new system will be reviewed. Upon review, if further investigation of the case is needed, Folsom Police might contact the person who filed the report.Filing a false police report is a crime. Folsom Police Department urges residents to not use this system to report emergencies or crimes in progress. Residents must still call or text 9-1-1 for those specific situations. For non-emergency situations, they can also call 916-461-6400 to file a report. More information about the Citizens Online Police Reporting Systemsystem can be found at www.folsom.ca.us/governement/police.