BURKE COUNTY, Ga. (WFXG) - Beginning Apr. 1, Burke County residents will have a new way to contact law enforcement and receive alerts from the Sheriff's Office. The app is called Safer Watch.

Users can provide pictures, videos, and audio files to assist officers with their call for service. 

According to the Sheriff's Office, this proactive approach can help law enforcement respond more effectively and prevent violent crimes before they occur. 

"We can emergent notifications to anybody that has downloaded the app. We can push out road closures, we can push out weather updates or anything that we have going on that is important for the community to know" said Colonel Chad Plueger with Burke County Sheriff's Office. 

Burke County Sheriff's office says it will aid in reducing violent crimes in the community by providing residents with a platform to report concerns of suspicious activities.

"They'll hit the tips and send it in, and then it comes to anybody who is assigned to the Safer watch app. Our investigators or our deputies." Colonel Pluger explained. 

Fox54 spoke with some Burke County Residents about the new app, and they said it will be beneficial. 

"It's another layer or another tier onto safety and feeling comfortable with living here." Alton West stated.

The Sheriff's Office is encouraging everyone in the community to download and sign up for the app. 

"Your participation is vital to the success of this initiative, and together, we can make a real difference in the safety and security of Burke County", stated Sheriff Alfonzo Williams.

The 'Safer Watch' app is available on the Google Play and Apple Store. Beginning next Monday, Burke County will be a partnering agency.

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