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The
long arm of the law just got longer. The Green Bay Police
Department is online at www.gbpolice.org with an in-depth
and informative web site. Officially launched in December
of 1999, the site continues to grow with new content and
features.
Michelle Arneson, web editor of the site, remembers when
the idea to build a web site was born. "In 1997, an
officer and I had attended an Internet and law enforcement
class at Fox Valley Technical College that focused on how
police departments were using the Internet to assist them."
In January of 1999, Jeremy Muraski joined the police force
after serving as a computer network administrator in the
private sector. He immediately expressed an interest in
becoming the Web Master of the site. Together, he and Arneson
set out to create an online presence.
The
first version of the new Web site contained a few pages
focusing on the Traffic Enforcement and Community Policing
Departments. It has since grown into a full-fledged online
information source.
If you
are looking for crime statistics, Green Bay's
Most Wanted, 911 information, The Chief of Police bio, department
policy, traffic enforcement, laws, Community Policing Programs
or contact information you will find it here. The site also
offers users the ability to report traffic or general nuisance
complaints for their specific neighborhood. There is also
the opportunity to order the CD ROM Street Sweeping-Broadway
Style, which highlights the award-winning efforts that Community
Policing Program made in cleaning up the Broadway area.
One
of the newest features is an ECAP (Electronic Community
Awareness Program) newsletter. By signing up for it you
will periodically be sent the latest information of current
department events, crime prevention news and statistics.
Another recent addition provides the community with sex
offender release information, which is, as the page explains,
"intended to keep everyone informed in the interests
of safety and welfare." Other new items include a calendar
of events, information and laws related to the latest Red
Light Sting campaign.
As for
the future development of the site, Arneson and Muraski
plan to implement more technical elements to the site. Crime
mapping software and secure transaction capabilities are
in the works. "Our goal is to increase efficiency,"
says Arneson, "and to decrease personnel demands."
Most of the general information questions that citizens
phone officers to ask can be answered by referring to the
Web site.
Arneson and Muraski welcome community feedback because this
Web site is for their use. "By finding out what the
community wants in a site, the Green Bay Police Department
feels it can better serve the community." And by the
same token, concludes Arneson, "The more informed the
community is, the better they can assist the Police Department."
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