Hamilton County Sheriff unveils new data dashboard app

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. — Hamilton County residents now have more crime data available.

Sheriff Austin Garrett introduced a free app and online dashboard for the sheriff's office crime data that he said will help the public be better informed.

To download the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) app, simply go to your app store. Search for “Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee.”

Once done, you can sign up for real-time alerts, access press releases, and get links to services that help make HCSO more accessible to the public.

Here is a list of some other things that the app offers its users:

• Search for a valid arrest warrant,
• Request an incident report,
• bail for prisoners,
• Send an anonymous tip about crimes, even if they involve students,
• Download the HCSO’s annual crime report,
• Review HCSO's operating policies and procedures.
• Learn more about HCSO’s Citizens Academy and DARE program and
• View a contact directory of important district offices.

Sheriff's Online Crime Dashboard

This is another new feature you can access, and it provides a breakdown of recently reported crimes by type: crimes against persons, crimes against property, and crimes against society.

It's also free and HCSO updates it every 24 hours.

A press release from the HCSO states

The dashboard provides information about police calls based specifically on incident reports. The information displays general incident statistics as well as charts and graphs that visually represent current and historical crime trends.

You can also adjust your settings to view only the area of ​​Hamilton County you want, including unincorporated areas throughout the county.

Simply enter a search term and the hotspots will be displayed on the map.

However, if you zoom in, you can see crime by type. The data the HCSO displays includes incident reports taken in the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County.

However, some incidents may be visible within the jurisdiction of a local municipality (for example, the Chattanooga Police Department) because HCSO personnel may have been the primary law enforcement agency responding to or preparing a report on that particular incident.

You can select crime data by year or by specific month ranges and navigate to different data categories and filters using the tabs in the lower left corner of the page.

The final tab, “About the Data,” provides viewers with information on how the numbers are managed, what types of crimes are included in the categories, and any specific disclaimers our citizens need to be aware of when using this tool. According to HCSO, this new dashboard will also be “a tremendous resource for our local real estate agents and families looking to move or relocate to Hamilton County and what types of crimes are occurring in our many different neighborhoods.”

“As your Sheriff, I am committed to utilizing a data-driven approach to improve our law enforcement operations,” said Sheriff Garrett. “Our new app and online crime dashboard will increase transparency and provide the public with accurate and timely information about our services and crime incidents in the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County. I am proud of our HCSO staff, particularly those in Information Services, Crime Analyst Unit and Public Relations, for their dedication in implementing these two valuable initiatives. Our agency's commitment to providing top-notch law enforcement services is a testament to why your Sheriff's Office is a leader.

The press release ends with the words: “Please note that any data retrieved from the app or Crime Dashboard is subject to change depending on the investigation, case history, or delays in the reporting process. For example, lab results may take several months to be available and may play an important role in bringing charges against a suspect, particularly in sex offenses or drug offenses..”