7 News Belize

Police Go Big Time With WhatsApp Investment
posted (November 21, 2017)
In October of last year, we showed you how police officers from the Rural Eastern Division rolled out a new technology based program to help curb crime. It utilizes WhatsApp, turning the messaging platform into a real time information sharing system.

Well, observing the success of that program, cops from Belize City will get their own version. With last week's 100 thousand dollar donation from the Taiwanese Embassy, the department has purchased 60 rugged phones and 3 desktop computers. The Eastern Division's regional commander told us how they will be put to use:

ACP Dezerie Magdaleno - Regional Commander, Eastern Division
"We're here today to officially launch the implementation of a communication project for Eastern Division that entails the acquisition of 60 rugged cellular phones that will be used to enhance our communication, within our daily work. It will be assisting us in sharing of realtime information. They will be placed at strategic locations both on south and the north side of Belize City. As you all may be aware, a project like this was first piloted in the Rural area, maybe about a year ago. And building on the success of that project, we ventured into expanding it to Belize City, and this is the result of it. We will taking the phones out to the different locations where they will be assigned to as soon as we are through from here."

"Sometimes, we may say that we're looking for a certain person, but putting a face to a name makes a difference. We could be posting up names and photographs of persons wanted and persons apprehended, and it is shared instantly among everybody, at the same time."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"So, it's being used to take the place of the traditional radio system?"

ACP Dezerie Magdaleno
"Yes, but we will not be depleting that. We will not be taking that away. We will still be using that."

"In terms of the accountability, there will be random checks done very often, where the phones are automatically locked of without any prior notice to the officers. So, whatever it is that you were doing, have been doing on the phone, you have no time to get rid of that information. The minute your phone is locked off, then you're visited, your phone is taken and inspected. So, then, you will be able to see what you have been doing on it, how much data you have used on that phone, for the period of time you have been at that post."

After today's press briefing, the cops started the distribution of the phones and the computers.

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