TPD Launches New Mobile App to Enhance Engagement and Transparency
Tallahassee Bystander app now available for download
August 24, 2021
Today, Aug. 24, the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) unveiled its newest mobile application, “Tallahassee Bystander.” The app is designed to record interactions with police and increase community engagement.
The City’s Technology and Innovation department worked with Quadrant 2 Inc. to develop the custom app, in tandem with the community group More Than A Name. While similar applications exist, TPD is the first agency in the country to have the voice activation technology used to develop “Tallahassee Bystander,” and the app is the first of its kind to be developed by a department.
“This application is a direct result of collaboration between the community and law enforcement,” Chief Lawrence Revell said. “Building relationships in the community means enhancing trust and transparency through tools like this application. The transition of this application from a community request to fulfillment also highlights our efforts to have meaningful conversations that produce tangible results.”
“Following the death of George Floyd, I and other community organizers met weekly with TPD to discuss ways our police officers could build trust and transparency with the community,” said Paul Woodley of More Than A Name. “Of the various initiatives, my idea for a voice-activated app that enables citizens to safely record and share police interactions with a smartphone prevailed. I am thankful that through the collective efforts of More Than A Name, the City of Tallahassee and TPD that Bystander is available for download and ready to serve the Tallahassee community.”
Funds for the project were approved by the City Commission in spring 2020.
Key features of the app include:
- Proprietary voice activation technology to ensure safe operation.
- Recorded videos stream off the phone live - once a video starts, it can’t be censored.
- No app registration - video submissions are anonymous.
- TPD can reach out to ask for more information about a submission via push notification, while maintaining anonymity.
- Videos are distributed to multiple parties to ensure transparency.
- One copy will stream to TPD, one copy saves to the phone, and another streams to three anonymous emergency contacts set by the submitter.
The new Tallahassee Bystander app is available for download in the Google Play and Apple Store.
To learn more about the Tallahassee Police Department, visit Talgov.com/Police.
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