NEWARK — In the wake of the recent video of a young man getting stripped and whipped over an alleged $20 debt, Newark Mayor Cory Booker chastised witnesses for not coming forward with information.

Now, a city councilman wants to encourage more witnesses to come forward with a smart phone app that would enable users to provide anonymous tips to authorities.

"This week we saw how criminals used technology to record their savage act and upload it to YouTube for the world to see," North Ward councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. said. "I am proposing that we use technology for good by giving law-abiding citizens the power to anonymously report criminal activity to help our police fight crime."

Ramos, who is also the council president, said he will introduce a resolution directing the Newark Police Department to research smart-phone applications and various

app developers that can be used to generate anonymous tips from the public.

Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio said he has no problem with Ramos’ proposal.

"I will continue to support and explore any plausible means that increases our positive interaction with the community and improves our ability to investigate, prevent, and solve crimes," he said in a statement.

The use of smart-phone apps to report incidents for police — and by police — has precedent.

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey launched a mobile phone app last year for citizens to video record and send interactions with law enforcement to increase police accountability.

And since 2008, one Texas company has set up anonymous tip apps for several major police departments, including Dallas, Bridgeport, Conn., and Philadelphia.

The iWatch app is tailored to individual police departments and can send anonymous text messages, dial tip lines, as well as allow for the anonymous delivery of photos and videos of potentially criminal acts.

Newark could be be the first in the state to do something like this, Ramos said.

Ramos said a program could be paid for with police forfeiture funds.

"We can get a system up and running in two to three months, just in time for summer," he said.

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