KING COUNTY, Wash. -- There's a new tool to fight crime. This month, the King County Sheriff's Office launched a new way citizens can report crimes and complaints online.
It’s important to note that the new online reporting is not for 911 emergencies or a crime in progress.
The sheriff says due to budget cuts wait times in unincorporated King County have gone up for non-emergency calls - anywhere from 2-to-5 hours.
The type of crimes people can report online range from abandoned cars to suspicious activity such as car prowls and drug-dealing in their neighborhood. They can also report thefts that involve mail, bicycles or even identity theft.
The Sheriff’s Office says this new method of crime reporting should be more efficient and convenient and it will save taxpayer dollars.
"It frees up our deputies to be out in the streets. The old saying is there's never a cop when you need one. Well, they’re more likely going to be around because they're not tied up doing these paper work kinds of calls, " said Sgt. John Urquhart with the King Co. Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's office says that all online reports are reviewed by someone in the department to make sure it's filled out correctly and approved.
A major benefit the website offers is that a person can print out their police report once it's approved for personal or insurance purposes.
"This doesn't preclude an officer a deputy response if that's what you want, (it’s) totally up to you,” ," said Sgt. Urquhart. “We will be happy to come out and take that report with the understanding it may take us some time to get there, but we will get there.
If a person wants to report a crime to a deputy in person, they can call the Sheriff's Office Communications Center at 206-296-3311.
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