That’s why the Near West Side native is developing a Yelp-like smart phone app that allows city residents to report any interactions — good or bad — with police.
The app and website, Excuse Me Officer, will not only allow residents to report police interactions, but will also provide an interactive map of reports filed near the user’s location.
“Chicago probably needs it the most”
The idea came to Harris around October 2015, when his good friend, a woman, was severely beaten by an off-duty officer. Her appendix ruptured because of the fight, but she was the only one arrested when officers showed up, Harris said.
The incident gave Harris the idea to start a Facebook page where people could report officer interactions. The Facebook page morphed into the website and app, he said.
Harris said:
"I experience the everyday black struggle.“
Exposing police misconduct will help keep officers honest while informing the community about potentially bad cops, Harris said.
His website has uploaded nearly 60,000 official reports claiming police misconduct recorded since 2012, though there’s so much data that Harris said he is not sure if it all will go on the app.
To make it profitable, Harris will sell ad space on the app, mostly to lawyers. That way, those who have had run-ins with the law will have an idea where to turn for help.
An app that let’s you name any officer you have contact with and let’s you say publicly anything you want about them with no consequences is surely the app that social progress has been missing. Where do I donate?
What are the officers going to do, arrest the apps?
Hopefully this apps includes everything like the race of the person stopped, location, income level, car value, the charge given and notes like if they are asked to show hands or get out of the car for a minor traffic stop ect.
