THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT RELEASE
“The Danville Police Department will be implementing a new program, effective immediately, where individuals and businesses will be able to report certain crimes online. Most larger departments in Illinois already have an online reporting system in place. The types of criminal offenses allowed to be reported online vary by department. Some departments require certain offenses to be reported online while others are optional.
The purpose of implementing online reporting is to give individuals the option to file a police report on their own time without having to wait for an officer. The time it may take for an officer to respond to a non-emergency call can vary which may create an inconvenience for those with a busy schedule. The reporting individuals will also be able to obtain a free copy of the report once the report is reviewed and approved by a designated Police Officer. This will eliminate delays, additional trips to the police department, and cumbersome forms that have to be completed for a copy of the report you filed for insurance or personal records.
In order to file an online police report, you must be at least 18 years of age with a valid e-mail address. These reports are only for the Danville Police Department so the offense must have occurred within the City of Danville. Filing an online police report is no different than filing a report with an officer. Fraudulent or false online reports are subject to the same criminal penalties as giving false information to an officer in person.
The process of filing an online report is relatively simple. It was created to be user friendly to simplify the process. There are links for “Online Reporting” available on the City of Danville’s website. You’ll select the type of report you need to make and then just fill in the blanks and answer the questions. Once your report is submitted, you’ll receive an e-mail confirmation along with a tracking number. Danville Police officers will review your report. They’ll correspond with you via e-mail to let you know that your report has been “Approved” or they may respond with follow-up questions. When your report is approved, a copy of the report will be sent to you via e-mail. All online police reports will be reviewed in the same manner as reports that are filed with police officers in person.
Filing online reports will only be an option for some selected criminal offenses. These offenses include Child Visitation Interference, several different types of Credit Card Fraud as well as Deceptive Practices, Harassment, Theft, Vandalism as well as Gas Station Drive Offs. Some offenses require the reporting person to attach supporting documents, such as a copy of the court order for Child Visitation. Other offenses will give you the option to attach pictures in case you capture a still image from a security camera of someone stealing gas or damaging your property. This process will also speed up the process for case review.
The Danville Police Department is consistently reviewing and evaluating programs and services that will benefit the community. We are committed to our partnership with the citizens, businesses, visitors and other stakeholders in our community. We are optimistic about the implementation of this new service to make things more convenient for our community while increasing efficiency and effectiveness of our resources. Thank you.”
