Map shows police calls by neighborhood in Iowa City

Iowa City residents can now track police calls in their neighborhood by using an interactive map.

The Police Department recently created the online map, which shows all calls for service in every Iowa City neighborhood for the past 30 days.

It's another example of community policing efforts that have received renewed focus in the wake of several high-profile incidents, including violent crimes, on the southeast side this year.

“We wanted a user friendly way to make this (information) available so that you didn't have to call up and ask for it,” Chief Sam Hargadine said.

The map can be found at www.icgov.org/default/apps/police/neighborhood.asp.

Each entry lists the type of activity called in - for example, a traffic stop - the location and time. Some include a brief note with more details.

It's the same information that has long been available in the department's online activity log, but that lists calls citywide rather than by neighborhood.

The map is the brainchild of Officer Jorey Bailey, who as the city's new crime prevention officer interacts with residents and serves as a liaison between the public and the Police Department. He said he found a lot of people were making assumptions about criminal activity without having the facts.

“Facts ... versus going off rumor or perception really can help alleviate some fears of crime,” he said.

Cindy Roberts, 52, who lives in the Grant Wood neighborhood in southeast Iowa City, compared the map to a neighborhood watch program.

“For me as a resident, I view it as one more way for me to be aware of what's going on in my neighborhood,” she said.