BELLINGHAM — The Bellingham Police Department wants to adopt software to help officers predict where crimes are most likely to occur.
Chief Cliff Cook says the city could use a Department of Justice grant to purchase the “predictive policing” software, which he says will allow the department to better serve the community. The department has asked residents to comment on the proposal at a City Council meeting next Monday.
The software analyzes data sets on crime types, place and time, which can help departments be more effective in deploying officers to deter crime rather than respond to it. Departments around the country use such programs.
The department said it has chosen software developed by Bair Analytics because it offers a free public access component that allows residents to receive alerts and view interactive maps of recent crimes.
