The Delta Police Department’s (DPD) online reporting system should not be added to the City of Delta’s mobile phone application DeltaConnect.
That was the conclusion outlined in a recent memorandum from the department to the Delta Police Board, which had asked for a study to look into the possibility of a link.
The Online Incident Reporting System (OIRS) was launched in the fall of 2020.
The online reporting system allows reporting for such incidents as mischief under $10,000, fraud under $10,000, lost property or theft valued under $10,000, traffic incidents and general community concerns.
The DeltaConnect app allows users to request services from the city, report city related issues and access to a variety of online city services. The DPD’s services have not been included as a link, nor have they been included on the city’s website.
Among the issues identified, the city’s app’s design does allow for the technical ability to redirect a user to the DPD’s online reporting system.
“Should a DPD link be included, the link would be the first online presence of the DPD embedded into any of the city’s platforms. As a result, this may cause confusion for the end user who ultimately is looking for the bylaws department or is looking for other DPD services that are not present in the city’s online presence,” the memo states.
The DPD conducted a study last year to determine people’s preferred method of communicating with the DPD for the purpose of making non-emergency reports, finding most people’s preferred method continues to be by telephone.
Police Chief Neil Dubord in another recent meeting of the police board noted that during 2023, the DPD received 355 reports through the OIRS, with an average of 30 reports monthly.
