Not so long ago you couldn't turn on the news or scroll through social media without hearing the calls for police reform. An idea that became popular a few times in the previous decade, but the underlying goal and definition has remained vague and elusive. In 2020, many people with honest hearts made the decision to put police departments in the hot seat. People posted black squares online, and they participated in protests in an effort to make change. Amid these community contributions, what exactly has changed since the movement began? The answer may surprise you.

The worldwide calls for police reform touched every corner of society. Everyone from working class Americans to the President of the United States made prompt demands to police departments across the country to do better. As a police officer, and member of the very system that was being protested, I was in awe watching Americans from each end of the political spectrum put a spotlight on my profession. However, as a passionate and engaged cop it became clear to me that many of the reform solutions were lacking structure and were unlikely to be adopted after all.

Defunding police departments was one of the first propositions that gained attention. Defunding a police department and simultaneously requiring more training, better community engagement, and more effective on-duty solutions are inversely proportional objectives. These goals don’t mix well. A police department needs more resources, not less, to implement better training protocol, create an effective team, and deploy a robust staff to handle calls safety and efficiently. The lack of funding has led to officers feeling burnt out or even leaving their sworn duties for greener pastures. Inevitably, departments are forced to settle with recruits that have less experience and are less qualified to meet their city’s demands. The doctrines imposed ultimately have proven punitive and shortsighted. The short-lived unity has quickly soured with rigorous political debate and scorn police departments against the reform quest they initially agreed with.

Two years later, I am still proudly working as a police officer in Madison, Wisconsin. The city is home to one of the most progressive departments in the county, has sufficiently diverse work force, and leads the county with one of the highest percentages of female police officers. Despite doing my best to protect and serve, everything has remained business as usual for patrol response across the city. This desolate reality is even more true for departments across the country that don't subscribe to many of the same ideals. More so, it was reported in 2021 that New York Mayor, Bill De Blasio, was re-funding the police by allocating $92 million to fund a new police precinct. The city of Baltimore Maryland announced $150 million to refund the police due to crime spikes. Minneapolis, the epicenter of the movement, agreed to a budget of $191 million to be allocated to the police department, ultimately bringing their funding close to their original pre-2020 protest budget.

The reason many budget cuts and reform plans were ultimately reversed is because they failed to recognize the needs of law enforcement organizations, failed to enact proven modern optimization and organizational strategies, and failed to reach out to our most qualified men in blue. Unfortunately, the actions taken have left many police departments across the county villainized and short staffed. Predictably, crime increased to rates not seen for decades too.

From my observations, the real result of the police reform movement, was watching smart, qualified, and kind police officers leaving the force, and forcing departments across the county to lower their standards to hire enough officers to hit their minimum staffing quota so emergency calls don't go unanswered. Even though the events from the last few years have regrettably left me jaded, most importantly they have given me the courage and drive to help mold the future of police reform. I have diligently searched for and discovered sensible answers to make police work easier and safer for my colleagues and I, leading to better interactions with community members. 

I’m happy to introduce you to Ireport, a company I started with my longtime friend, and fellow community leader. Through responsible action, we plan to revolutionize the way policing is done in the 21st century. Ireport is a software currently in development that standardizes reporting procedures, reduces workload, and removes armed police officers from non-emergency situations. A steppingstone to police reform is modernizing police work, while reducing calls for service, and allowing historically underserved communities to choose how they wish to be policed. Ireport is truly a non-punitive form of police reform that will benefit all community members and increase citizen to local government communication. We will significantly alleviate non-emergency call pressure placed on the shoulders of already overworked cops. We will increase report clarity. The community will enjoy a comfortable platform to report their issues without needing face to face contact with an officer. Wise, and swift action will bring about the positive change we’re all searching for. I believe it is time to bring our justice system into the 21st century, and fully utilize the technological innovations our generation has to offer.

In recent years, trust between police and communities reached historic lows, prompting urgent calls for reform. However, what began as a push for change morphed into punitive measures that slashed police funding, damaged morale, and drove many dedicated officers out of the profession. While some reforms were rolled back in response to rising crime rates, the damage caused will take years to repair. 

Today, police leaders face the daunting task of rebuilding trust both within their departments and with the communities they serve. Enter Ireport: a customizable software platform that provides citizens with a direct line to their local police departments, fostering open communication like never before. 

Andrew A. DeMuth, Lead presenter for LeadingBlue.com, underscores the importance of strong police-community relationships in the Policing Matters podcast episode "How to Set Police Supervisors Up For Success." Effective leadership at all levels, he argues, is critical to achieving this goal.

Ireport facilitates data-driven decision-making and effective solutions by equipping police departments with valuable insights from self-reported incidents. By harnessing citizen-reported data, departments can identify trends, target problem areas, and develop proactive policing strategies to prevent crime more effectively.

Moreover, Ireport promotes two-way communication between law enforcement and the public through its user-friendly mobile app. Citizens can report non-emergency incidents and suspicious activities directly to their local police departments, fostering a collaborative environment. Real-time updates on reported incidents keep communities informed and engaged while promoting transparency and accountability within departments.

Ireport offers the following specific features that directly addresses the need for improved police technology that caters to the communities they serve. 

By empowering communities and law enforcement alike, Ireport aims to create safer neighborhoods and enhance public safety. Collaborating with Ireport enables police departments to make more informed decisions, build trust, and ultimately create a more secure future for all.

Ireport empowers communities and strengthens police effectiveness. Learn more about Ireport and see how it can benefit your community. Contact us at 715-828-5543 or info@ireport.us to schedule a personalized demo and discuss how Ireport can meet your specific needs.

Keeping your community safe shouldn't be complicated. For citizens, Ireport is the simple-to-use mobile app that puts the power of self-reporting directly in your hands. Whether you witness suspicious activity, need to report a non-emergency incident, or simply want to connect with your local law enforcement, Ireport makes it easier than ever to do so.

Download Ireport today, It's the simple, reliable, and empowering way to stay connected and contribute to a safer tomorrow for you, your family, and your community.