By Suzie Ziegler
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Tallahassee Police Department has designed a first-of-its kind smartphone app that lets citizens record police interactions and livestream the video directly to police, according to WCTV. The voice-activated app, which is called Tallahassee Bystander, aims to improve community relations and trust.
Simply say, “Bystander, record,” and the app will start recording and livestreaming to Tallahassee PD. According to WCTV, the video can be used as evidence in use-of-force investigations, but users have the option to stay anonymous. Users can also alert police to active situations, and in turn police can reach out to anonymous users for more information.
“It provides everybody another level of comfort, another level of interaction with the police department, and, quite frankly, it helps our citizens and it helps the police department,” said Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey at a press conference Tuesday.
According to the report, the idea for the application was conceived last summer during the peak of civil unrest. Police leaders met with Black Lives Matter activists, who requested an app with voice activation.
Police and the City of Tallahassee worked with app developer Quadrant 2 and a local non-profit to create the app, reported WCTV.
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell says the app shows his department’s commitment to its community.
“We are here for our community. We want to listen and continue to collaborate on ways to strengthen our relationships with the community, and the launch of this app really highlights that,” Revell said at the press conference.
Learn more about the Tallahassee Bystander app here.