The Oak Ridge Police Department could unveil a new online crime mapping system this week that will publicly display incident information. That information includes crime types, dates and times, and block addresses.

“It enables the public to go online and search out crime in any area, particularly in their own area,” Oak Ridge Police Department Crime Analyst David Gordon said. “You can log in today and see what was going on.”

Free to the public, the RAIDS Online system will show crimes such as assaults, burglaries, homicides, robberies, and thefts. Sexual assaults and traffic stops will not be reported, Oak Ridge Police Chief James Akagi told City Council members during a work session Monday.

Akagi said the new crime mapping system will inform the public and show residents that criminal activity is not that bad in Oak Ridge. It will also prove that the Police Department is transparent, displaying to the public much of the same information that the police department sees, Akagi said.

“It’s just good government to be transparent,” he said.

RAIDS automatically pulls crime information from the Police Department’s records system.

Akagi said residents will “keep their eyes open” if they learn about certain crimes or trends through RAIDS. They will also be able to report anonymous crime tips.

“This will be a force multiplier for our Police Department,” Akagi said. “They will help us by giving us valuable tips.”

“It’s going to help our intelligence gathering,” Gordon said.

Residents will also be able to sign up for customized crime alerts via e-mail.

RAIDS Online is also used in Anderson County, Collierville, Johnson City, Knox County, Knoxville, Loudon, and by the University of Tennessee Police Department.

Gordon said the system will allow the public to stay informed about local and regional crime activities and trends, and it will enhance Neighborhood Watch and crime reduction programs as well as relationships between residents and the Police Department.

Powered by BAIR Analytics, the new crime mapping system provides simple access to almost real-time information, Gordon said.

Although the public can use the system for free, Akagi said the ORPD paid for the software using drug fund money. There is also a small maintenance fee, although he didn’t have specific cost information available on Monday.

Here is the Oak Ridge Police Department press release, sent out by Akagi on Tuesday afternoon: