The Oxford Borough Police Department recently added two new patrol vehicles to their existing fleet that include new features designed to increase the department’s transparency.

 

By Gabbie Burton, Contributing Writer

The Oxford Borough Police Department recently added two new patrol vehicles to their existing fleet that include new features in an effort to increase their visibility and transparency in the communities they serve.

The two Ford 2023 police vehicles were officially unveiled at Oxford’s First Friday event on May 5. The cars are recognizable by their new gray color, American flag decal, reflective “POLICE” writing and the QR codes featured on the back of the vehicles.

“It’s just a more innovative way of connecting with people and linking them faster to us,” said Sgt. Chris Coverly, who first proposed the QR code feature.

While the new gray vehicles currently stick out amongst the all-white models currently in use, the department will be transitioning to the new style and the new features, including the QR codes, as the older cars age out. The QR code links to the CRIMEWATCH site used by the department. The site shares information about recent arrests, unsolved cases and features a tip line.

The QR code is aimed at increasing transparency between the police department and the community, an effort that took precedence in the wake of the 2020 killing of George Floyd and the subsequent calls for change in law enforcement and criminal justice practices.

“We began to look for ways where we could be more transparent,” Coverly said. “One of them was with our social media account and our website, and then that's when CRIMEWATCH came along.”

CRIMEWATCH is a nationwide service used by police departments to disseminate information efficiently and transparently to their respective communities. CRIMEWATCH chose to recognize the department for the QR code addition to the new vehicles in their “Customer Spotlight” feature.

“This innovative addition to the police vehicle is a commendable move towards enhancing community engagement and promoting transparency in law enforcement,” the feature reads. “As a result, we believe that this is a noteworthy development that deserves recognition and emulation.”

CRIMEWATCH also includes an app that the department utilizes to send important notifications such as if an unsafe situation is unfolding nearby or to collect tips from the public.

“People can anonymously send us tips and send us information, we don’t see their email, we don’t know who it came from,” Coverly said. “We’re having a much higher success rate because we're putting it on CRIMEWATCH. Tips are flowing in at a much quicker rate, and we’re able to solve crimes more quickly.”

According to Coverly, CRIMEWATCH has so far been working for the department. Since transitioning to CRIMEWATCH in early 2021, that community interaction through the website and social media has increased. He did, however, issue a reminder that the The Oxford Borough Police Department only has jurisdiction within the borough and cannot respond to any tips issued from the surrounding townships. According to Coverly, at the end of the first year using CRIMEWATCH, the department ranked in the top five for most interactions among comparably sized departments in the state.

The QR code is also featured on A-frames to display during community events and on stickers for local businesses and individuals to place where they see fit. In addition to the QR codes, the department is also working on receiving accreditation with help from the Pennsylvania Police Accreditation Coalition (PPAC) in an effort to further promote transparency.

“Statewide accreditation is a police department opening their doors, opening their books, opening their building, opening their policy, to then have recommendations for best practices,” Coverly explained.

The PPAC adheres to the official accreditation program from the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC) developed by the Pennsylvania Chief of Police Association. Currently, 149 agencies across the state maintain accredited status and must be reevaluated every three years.

“[PLEAC] recognizes the benefits of establishing professional standards and objectives for law enforcement agencies to adhere to in order for them to increase accountability, professionalism, transparency, and most of all establish and maintain community support and trust,” reads the PPAC website on the benefits of accreditation.

In addition to increasing transparency, Coverly hopes the QR codes, CRIMEWATCH and the accreditation also increase the community’s trust in the department.

“Hopefully this eases their thoughts that their town is doing it right,” he said. “I can appreciate the fact that they are willing to police themselves. I think that’s very important.”