Law enforcement agencies from around Northern Virginia partnered to launch iWatchNOVA; a portal that allows residents in the area to report suspicious activities and behaviors that may indicate terrorist or significant criminal activity.
iWatchNOVA facilitates reporting of suspicious activities like possible surveillance or casing operations, people photographing or videotaping critical infrastructure or security checkpoints. The Northern Virginia Regional Intelligence Center (NVRIC), which covers 18 jurisdictions, then collects, evaluates, analyzes and disseminates this information. Reports through iWatchNOVA are examined to determine if there is a viable threat to the community.
The iWatchNOVA app is free and easy to use on your IOS or Android, with the ability to remain anonymous. The portal is also accessible through their website (https://iwatchnova.org). It gives you the option to upload photos and provide specific details. The state-of-the-art technology from Trapwire then provides robust analytical capabilities that allow NVRIC to detect patterns indicative of terrorist and criminal preparations. This allows law enforcement to use the eyes and ears of the community to prevent terrorism, fight crime and keep Northern Virginia safe for all.