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Brandon Police Service CrimeReports.com F.A.Q.
What is CrimeReports.com?
CrimeReports.com is an online mapping and analysis service provided by Public Engines, Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. CrimeReports.com combines the value of police data with the ease-of-use of Google-based mapping and an analytics module so that members of the public can view police data in a high-impact map or summary descriptive format. Members of the public may also sign up to receive free email alerts based on user-defined parameters (e.g., geography, crime types, frequency, etc.).

What type of Brandon Police Service (BPS) data is used in CrimeReports.com?
The CrimeReports.com service utilizes calls-for-service (CFS) data from the BPS CAD system. CAD stands for Computer Aided Dispatch. CAD is a highly specialized application that allows for the coordinated communication, assignment and tracking of Police Department resources in response to citizen and police generated calls-for-service.
What specific types of data from CAD are used in CrimeReports.com? Calls-for-service data is utilized for CrimeReports.com, including the following data fields: entry date, entry time, event number, event location, and event disposition.

Is there a description for the CAD data fields included in CrimeReports.com?
Yes:
  • Event Number: Electronically generated by the Police Service’s CAD system, this number catalogues an event reported to the Police Service.
  • Entry Date & Time: This is the date and time that the event was entered into the Police Department’s CAD system.
  • Event Location: This is the 100th block address and intersection information. CrimeReports.com translates address data into block level data. This means that if an incident occurs at 123 Main Street, it will show up as 100 Block Main Street in the CrimeReports.com application. Some location fields will be populated with “address could not be mapped” if the data was not geo-processed accurately.
The following table provides several examples to demonstrate the block translation process:

Street NumberBlock Translation
0 – 990 Block
100 – 199100 Block
1000 – 1099 1000 Block

How can I use the data from CrimeReports.com in support of community safety goals?
Data from CrimeReports.com can be reviewed and used to improve community safety. CrimeReports.com data is appropriate to consider and discuss as part of coordinated crime prevention initiatives. Members of the community are encouraged to continue partnering and problem-solving with the BPS while using CrimeReports.com data toward shared police-community goals.

Is every CAD event type included in CrimeReports.com?
Not every CAD event type is included in CrimeReports.com. Publishing certain CAD event may compromise ongoing investigations.

Why was CAD chosen as the data source for CrimeReports.com?
While most agencies furnish data to the public for only those select incidents in which a report was created or an arrest was made, CrimeReports.com offers a broader view of police-community contacts based on calls-for-service, including less serious quality of life call data. It is important to note that there may be multiple calls for a single incident in the CAD system (as compared to official crime statistics whereby each count represents one incident; please see crime statistics section below). Also, please keep in mind that CAD calls-for-service do not always equate to a criminal incident resulting in a report or arrest.

How often is data updated in CrimeReports.com?
CrimeReports.com data is updated automatically once per day and contains the most recent thirty days of data online.

If I find an event and have additional information to provide to the police, what do I do?
Information provided within CrimeReports.com is intended for the expressed purpose of educating the public on police activity in the City of Brandon. Beyond that intended outcome, the Police Service is hoping to enhance our partnerships with the community and is asking the public to provide the Service with any information that would assist us to resolve crimes. Follow-up information should be directed to the Police by either calling 204-729-2345or by the Internet at www.brandoncrimestoppers.com Information of an emergency nature should be passed through the Service’s 9-1-1 emergency system.

Under no circumstances should any member of the public take any action on their own behalf as it relates to the information provided on this website, other than notifying the Brandon Police Service with information they wish to share.

Who can I contact if I have trouble using the CrimeReports.com website?
Click on the link below for assistance in utilizing CrimeReports.com: http://www.crimereports.com/company/contact

Does CrimeReports.com have a FAQ site?
Yes. FAQ and other related information (e.g., company, partners, legal) can be found near the bottom of the CrimeReports.com site at http://www.crimereports.com/

Does CrimeReports.com have a DISCLAIMER?
Yes. Disclaimer:
The information displayed on this website is susceptible to some degree of error due to the collection, entry, and geo-processing of the data. No warranty or guarantee is made nor implied regarding the content, geographic accuracy, timeliness, completeness, sequence, or accuracy of any of the information provided herein. The reader should not rely on the data provided herein for any reason. The information is provided strictly as a courtesy to the public.