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The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department utilizes a number of tools and resources to help protect citizens. Some of these tools are easily recognizable, such as the Police helicopter or our SWAT team. There's another tool that we use that you'll never see on the streets, but you may hear from it. In fact, it might call you at home.
Our department has a software application called "The Communicator-GeoNotify" system. This unique application works in conjunction with our GIS (Geographic Information Systems) files and allows us to disperse information to a large geographical area in a short amount of time.
For example, if our department wanted to share information about a missing child in a neighborhood, the Communications bureau supervisor uses a computerized map to highlight an entire neighborhood or perhaps a circle extending 5000 feet around the missing child's home. After deciding where the message will be delivered, a short announcement is recorded. For our example, a short message could be delivered with the basic identifiers of the child listed and asking citizens to call 911 if they see a child matching the description. The Communicator system then starts the process of calling every phone number associated with the homes and businesses located within the pre-determined area. When a phone is answered or an answering machine is activated, the Communicator system announces that the phone call was placed by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and it then delivers the pre-recorded announcement.
This automated system can reach hundreds of homes in minutes. If you answer the phone and hear an announcement that it is the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department calling, please do not hang up as there may be vital information to your safety waiting for you. We may be trying to reach you to notify you of a chemical spill in the area or about rising flood waters in your neighborhood. A few days after September 11, 2001, our department used this system to alert residents that a work crew would be using dynamite and that they would likely be hearing explosions. Since residents had been notified, we received no calls to our 9-1-1 center after the blasts, despite the heightened alert and fear following the attacks days before.
This system will never be utilized for frivolous reasons or for solicitations, so please take the time to listen to any automated messages delivered to your phone by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Sgt. Rich Stahnke
Providence DivisionCoordinator
Supervisor
704-943-2504
