NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
NFTA Transit Police Launch Smartphone Application
Buffalo, NY
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority's Transit Police department introduced today a new high tech way for people to report criminal or suspicious transportation related activities via a NFTA See Say smartphone application.
With this specifically created NFTA app, people now have the ability to easily and instantly report suspicious activity to a dispatcher in the NFTA police communications center, while on a Metro bus, a train, in a rail station, at the Buffalo Niagara and Niagara Falls International Airports or at the NFTA-Boat Harbor. With just a few clicks, a person can share pictures, text and incident location in seconds.
George W. Gast, Chief of the NFTA Transit Police department said, "We are always looking for new tools to empower people to help keep our transportation facilities as safe and secure as possible. With this customized NFTA app, we are empowering everyone to be our eyes and ears. It all comes down to 'If You See Something, Say Something'."
The NFTA police are just the fourth law enforcement agency in the U.S. to implement this smartphone application for public transit use and the very first to use it for aviation and marina use. Originally designed for use within a public transit setting, the NFTA has expanded it to include its two airports and 1,033 slip marina.
Kimberley A. Minkel, NFTA Executive Director said, "The NFTA is serious about keeping its customers and facilities safe and secure. This new piece of technology reinforces our commitment of being in the forefront when it comes to ensuring the wellbeing of our customers, properties and employees."
"I ride the bus to work everyday and can see how this app can be applied in so many useful ways," said, Phil Haberstro, Executive Director of The Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo. "The technology contained in this app provides daily commuters like me with the ability to play an active role in the ongoing effort to maintain a safe and comfortable transit environment."
If You See Something, Say Something promotes a collaborative effort between the NFTA police and its customers. It provides a fast, high tech way for people to communicate unruly behavior on a bus, in a Metro rail station, at the boat harbor, or a suspicious, unattended package in an airport parking lot or terminal to NFTA police. This app also provides the ability for the police to proactively communicate high priority alerts during emergency situations to everyone who have downloaded the free app. Think road closures during snowstorms or a missing person report.
The program is discrete - users may choose to send reports anonymously and a rider's smartphone flash is automatically turned off when taking a photo of someone or something suspicious. The report is routed to the console at the transit dispatch center, where a police officer then manages the report. Reports are also immediately available on the Mobile Data Terminals in all 35 patrol cars.
"It's a priceless addition to our security capabilities. It gives customers a chance to send our police officers a message about anything they see; so we'll have a better chance to provide customer service and improve safety on buses, trains, in our airports or at the boat harbor," Gast said.
The NFTA app also allows for two-way communication so complainants can comment back on alerts received from transit police i.e. "I see the missing person" and for the transit dispatcher to ask a rider for more details regarding a specific report from a rider.
Android and iPhone users can now download the NFTA See Say application free at nfta.com/police or the iTunes app store.
The application was developed by ELERTS, Weymouth, Mass., creators of an industry-first personal safety social network for emergency notification. ELERTS is creating better emergency response systems by embracing high-speed mobile networks, smartphone technology and social media.
People get it. "We need to be watchful to help protect each other," said, Chris Russo, EVP and co-founder of ELERTS. "The See Say app makes it easy for people using public transit and airports to contribute to improving safety for everyone." Ed English, ELERTS CEO said, "We're pleased to introduce this emergency notification system in Buffalo Niagara with the belief that people will recognize the value of using the power of new technology to increase the level of their security."
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