Crime Mapping System Creates Visual Experience for Westwood Residents

Do you wish you could visualize where certain crimes are taking place in town?

Well now, because of a new system implemented by the Westwood Police, you can.

By using a mapping program through CrimeReports.com, Westwood residents can now see where certain police or fire-related incidents - normally listed in the public police logs - are happening in town. 

"If you pop on first thing in the morning and want to look at the last three days in Westwood, you can see where we've been and why we went there," said Leo Hoban, Technical Services Lieutenant for Westwood Police and systems administrator for the CrimeReports program. "So this is pretty useful for a couple of things."

Westwood Police first announced the system on the department's website in August. Users can view the maps from three to 14 days of events listed in the Westwood Police system.

The record management system that Westwood Police currently have in place is common, and the department was able to set up software that allowed the mapping system to automatically extract data from a server. That data is pulled from the department's police logs, and is updated every night.

"I can export maps and put them put on the website, because people are sort of interested in looking at maps and see where things are happening," Hoban said.

The mapping system can be accessed by either visiting the Westwood Police Department website or simply by going to CrimeReports.com and searching for Westwood statistics. 

The underlying engine of the mapping system is Google Maps. The only difference is one can't use a mouse wheel to zoom into the maps, but rather must do so manually - a minor setback, Hoban said.

"I find it very useful," Hoban said. "The sort of things that we like to use the mapping for is taking a look at motor vehicle accidents and see where they're happening.  And you look at where they're happening and see if there's anything we can d to sort of cut down on accidents in that sort of area."

Surrounding towns, including Norwood, Brookline and Boston are also using the mapping system, Hoban said. 

"This will actually give us thefts from vehicles," Hoban said. "It gives me Westwood's, but it also tells me where else they're happening in the area, which is of somewhat limited use. (But) it does help to give you a graphical representation of what's going on."

When clicking on an item listed on the map, users can select from a number of crime types they'd like to see, from theft of vehicle, to assault, to arson.

"It's an easy way or sort of putting out information to people, and it has enough tools on it that people can manipulate the data and often times people email me with observations," he said.

The department worked on the system for about a month before going live, Hoban said. Currently, the department has about six months of data - comprising about 4,400 incidents - up on the map. 

"We're mapping at about 98 percent," he said. "We're mapping reasonably well."

Where the police logs can provide the public with details of certain events in town, the mapping system allows for residents to get a visual experience in order to see what trends might arise with certain incidents, like a recent string of car break-ins.

"It's one of the best things I've seen in terms of being a really simple tool to use in getting information to the public," Hoban said.