As Brookline Police App Draws Criticism, Police Invite Questions

BROOKLINE, MA — What police said is just a new way to let them know if you're concerned about crime or something strange in the neighborhood has kicked up concern from some in town.

Earlier this month, the police department announced the release of an app designed to allow people to report crime anonymously.

Police say it's simply another way to report crime. And it comes in addition to app the town released last year, called BrookOnLine that allows folks to report potholes, out streetlights, sidewalk issues, damaged signs and trees down. There is a section on that app that allows folks to report graffiti, abandoned bikes and broken parking meters to the police. The new app allows people to go beyond just those three types of reports and it permits anonymous tips.

This isn't the first time police have dealt with anonymous tips. People have been reporting issues to the local police anonymously via phone. Dispatchers then mark the calls anonymous, or leave out the name of the reporting party in the system. Departments across the country regularly accept anonymous tips.

"We want residents to help us keep Brookline safe, but we understand that not everyone is comfortable calling us," said Deputy Superintendent Michael Gropman.

In part to help address criticism the police department is inviting the community to talk to them about the new app Wednesday from 6 p.m to 7 p.m.. Chief Andrew Lipson will be there to answer questions.

Tuesday night, five residents implored the Select Board to consider temporarily shutting the app down, until deeper implications about the impact of the ease of the ability to anonymously report suspicious people could be examined.

Anne Weaver who is the parent of a Driscoll student said she was concerned it might increase racial profiling.

"Although there is not a large research of database at this point, some data are beginning to emerge," she said. "One recent report examined (American Bar Association Journal) determined that racial bias does influence reports of 'suspicious people'," she said noting that the authors found that most reports of suspicious persons focused on black and brown people.

Another mother, Savyon Cohen, concurred. She said it raised many questions, not least of which were where is the information stored, who has access to the information and what is protocol for acting on anonymous tips.

"I'm asking you to question the impact, if not the intent," she said.

• Public Meeting: 6-7 p.m. Brookline Police Community Room, Wednesday, July 24.

Previously:

Brookline Police Release App To Report Anonymous Tips

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).