Wisconsin's Attorney General is calling for a statewide system that would alert businesses about criminal activity in their area.
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen wants lawmakers to approve the creation of a Wisconsin Crime Alert Network. The network would share information between police, businesses, and other agencies about crimes occurring in any area. Van Hollen says that would allow businesses to take steps to protect themselves and encourage them to report suspicious activity to police. Alerts would be sent out via e-mail and fax.
The proposal is based on a system already in place in Minnesota, which connects police with nearly 10,000 businesses. Van Hollen expects the Wisconsin equivalent to cost about $125,000 a year to operate, although most of the cost would be covered by fees paid by businesses involved in the voluntary program.
