What is the purpose of this database?
The purpose is to help the community answer three basic questions:
1. What is happening in our community?
2. Where is it happening?
3. What time is it happening?

At the same time, it gives the community nearly instant access to events when they are reported, providing a near real-time analysis.

How does it give the community near instant access? Is there a warning that goes out instantly?
Well, sort of. Each time a report is made, within 10 minutes there is a new event posted in the crime forum, in the New Reported Event thread.. Members that are subscribed to the crime forum are instantly notified via e-mail.

How do I subscribe to the forum?
Simple, click inside the thread, click on thread tools and select the "Subscribe to this Forum" option. After that, select Instant E-mail notification.
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What sort of things cannot be placed in the database?
Please read our Reporting Guidelines in the menu bar above. Typically, report things that are a benefit to the community such as crime, property destruction, graffiti. Things of a more personal or private nature should not be in there, such as domestic issues, and issues that have no effect on the well-being of the community, mainly dealing with family or domestic issues.

...more coming