iWATCH:
Suspicious Activity Reporting
You can help prevent terrorism in our back yard by paying attention and speaking up. The Washington region is a special place, one that we are privleged to call home. Now, citizens can help protect our home from those who would do harm by calling attention to potential threats to our community.
Now, when you see something that just doesn't look right, you can quickly and easily make an electronic record of what you observed and report it to local police for investigation and possible action. The information you provide could be the difference in preventing an attack on one of our nation's most cherished institutions or critical functions. Making a report is free, easy, and an important element of our shared responsibility to protect our nation from harm.
Using iWATCH to Make a Report
The iWATCH suspicious activity reporting tool enables users to provide detailed information about suspicious activities or behaviors that may indicate possible criminal or terrorist activity
When a user logs in to iwatchdc.dc.gov, they are first presented with a Welcome screen (pictured at right). By clicking on “Make a Report,” you will be prompted to enter your contact information (shown below) so that a member of the Metropolitan Police Department may contact you to follow up with any additional questions about what you’ve witnessed.
Follow the prompts, clicking on “Next” until you have completed all of the fields and pages that are applicable to the report you are making. The forms will prompt you for the basic information, such as the date and time of occurrence, the location (entered by typing a street address, cross streets, by clicking on the map), information about the individual(s) and/or their vehicle(s), and a brief narrative (description) of what you saw. You can also submit photos on the “Attachments” screen.
Once you’ve entered all the data, the system will provide an opportunity to review everything before you submit it.
About Your Report
Every report is reviewed by analysts. Providing your contact information is required to ensure that MPD personnel can contact you to follow up with additional questions. If you prefer to make an anonymous report, contact the police at (202) 727-9099.
Below are links to things to keep in mind when preparing a suspicious activity report. Remember that the goal of iWATCH is to report suspicious behaviors and activities, not individuals.
Additional Resources and Information
Report Suspicious Activity
- To report immediate threats or emergencies, call 911
- To report suspicious activity or behavior, call (202) 727-9099
- To make a report using iWATCH, go to iwatchdc.dc.gov
* This document is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF) and a PDF reader is required for viewing. Download a PDF reader or learn more about PDFs.
