February 8, 2012
The Tennessean
Sandi Van Orden
City is first police department in state to have mobile device link
FRANKLIN — Franklin Police Department has a free app for the public that was designed by one of its traffic officers.
The app, available through the Android market, is the first police department app in the state and one of only a handful in the nation, according to Chief David Rahinsky.
Officer Chris Grant, the app developer, showed off its features in a press conference this week. It can be used on a phone or tablet. It has a non-emergency phone listing, and a user can dial the police department from the app. It has biographical information on the department leadership, along with links to email them. There is a “submit a concern” web form. Grant said each form submitted will be read by a person and given to the appropriate division. The app also allows for the submission of anonymous tips.
“We’re bringing that to the small screen as well,” Grant said. From the screen, the user would submit a tip on a third party website to be sent to the police department.
The app also has the department address and a link to a Google map. There is a section with the latest news releases from the department and an area to sign up for alerts.
Warner said the department began with an Android app because that is the platform the city uses. He said it has allowed department employees to download and troubleshoot before the apps’ release. He said there will be an app for the iPhone in the future.
In-house project saves money
Sgt. Charles Warner said that if the app had been developed by an outside party it would have cost the city $2,000 or more. Grant developed the app while at work at no additional cost to the department.
Grant has worked with software since 1997 and has been in law enforcement since 2002. He has been with the Franklin Police Department for eight years.
Warner had viewed demos from an outside app development company, and since he knew of Grant’s computer and software knowledge, he approached Grant for an opinion about having an app developed for the department.
Grant said he thought it was a great idea and asked if he could develop the app.