iWATCH Reporting Agreement

Reporting Suspicious Activity Using iWATCH

Welcome

Welcome to the MPD's iWATCH website, where you can report suspicious activities or behaviors that may indicate criminal or terrorist activity.

This site is not designed to report emergencies. If this is an emergency, call 911.

Every report will be 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.

The report should take less than 5 minutes to complete.

What Is iWATCH?

iWATCH is a partnership between your community and your police department that is intended to help keep your neighborhood safe from criminal and terrorist activities. You can help protect your community by reporting behaviors and activities that may be indicative of intelligence gathering or pre-operational planning related to terrorism or other criminal acts.

What Suspicious Behaviors and Activities Should You Report?

Here are examples of behaviors and activities to report:

People sketching or measuring entrances and other features of important buildings.
Strangers asking questions about building security features and procedures.
Briefcase, suitcase, backpack, or package left behind.
Cars or trucks left in No Parking zones in front of important buildings.
Intruders in secure areas where they are not supposed to be.
Chemical smells or fumes that are out of place for the location.
People requesting sensitive information, such as building blueprints, security plans, or VIP travel schedules without a need to know.
Purchasing supplies or equipment that can be used to make bombs or weapons or purchasing uniforms without having the proper credentials.
Taking photographs or videos of security features, such as security cameras or security check points.

Trust Your Instincts

We rely on our gut instinct every day of our lives. If a behavior or activity seems odd to you and is similar to the activities described above, report it! Here are some real examples of suspicious activities reported by concerned individuals that saved lives:

If it doesn’t LOOK right, report it. A store clerk processing video for a client noticed that the video included extensive footage of security checkpoints at US military bases. The clerk turned the video in to the police, who later arrested and convicted six men planning terrorist attacks in New Jersey.
If it doesn’t SMELL right, report it. A grandmother noticed that the neighboring empty apartment was frequented by various individuals. When she smelled bad odors coming from the apartment she reported it. Police discovered a poison gas factory.
If it doesn’t SOUND right, report it. Residents were concerned with a person’s threats of violence. Police captured and arrested a group planning a subway attack.

Why Report These Behaviors and Activities?

Your attention to and awareness of suspicious behavior or activity, when promptly reported to the police, can help prevent crimes and save lives.
Preparations for terrorist attacks are often seen, but rarely reported. When in doubt, report the suspicious activity via iWatch.
Remember that the iWATCH program is about behaviors and activities, NOT individuals. What they are doing matters; their ethnic or religious background does not.