Several Lancaster County police departments are using CRIMEWATCH’S online reporting system for non-emergency incidents – such as a damaged vehicle, lost/stolen wallet or act of vandalism.
The online reporting system was implemented in response to COVID-19, so to limit officer exposure to the virus by minimizing police interactions in non-emergency situations.
CRIMEWATCH, a two-way communication platform between police and the residents they serve, is used by most departments in Lancaster County.
The online reporting feature is free to departments using CRIMEWATCH and free to anyone who makes a report.
CRIMEWATCH will also provide the feature for free to any department in North America – whether they have a subscription or not.
About half the departments (and counting) in Lancaster County – and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office – are using the online reporting.
Police departments are not scaling back their efforts or staffing fewer officers – this is a precaution to preserve public safety, which also extends to our law-enforcement officers.
Police are responding to emergency situations as they always have: with urgency and attention to assisting the person(s) in need.
The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office is confident our police officers will continue to protect and serve all communities.
Making an online report is easy; it involves providing information in designated categories, e.g. location, date/time, and what happened.
Departments using the online reporting tool will view the reports, triage, and respond to the incidents in the appropriate manner.
Find your department’s CRIMEWATCH platform here: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/
Local departments using the online reporting tool, as of March 31:
Columbia, East Cocalico Township, Ephrata, Lancaster, Lititz, Manheim Borough, Manor Township, Northern Lancaster County Regional, Pequea Township, and West Earl Township, West Lampeter Township police, and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright