Local townships joining together to launch Pittsburgh-based danger alert app

BRACKENRIDGE, Pa. — The body camera video from Tarentum police shows the tense moments in Brackenridge just moments after a beloved police chief was shot and killed: a gunman on the loose encountering other officers and multiple innocent bystanders before fleeing the valley heading towards the city.

“I didn’t know until my neighbor came over. You know, maybe if they had something like the Amber Alert, something like that, maybe a lot of people could have known,” said resident Pam Marsh.

That was the concern from residents: there was no way to communicate what was happening across the municipalities the day Brackenridge Police Chief Justin McIntire was killed. Community leaders recognize that.

“When it crossed from our municipality to Brackenridge, we quickly realized we had no way to push out to the residents in neighboring municipalities things we know,” said Dwight Boddorf, Tarentum Borough manager.

Until now, as Tarentum, Brackenridge and Harrison Township are partnering together to launch the Savvy Citizens app in their communities.

“If there is ever an emergency situation again that really crosses all municipality boundaries, we will be able to notify residents quickly to shelter in place or do anything else. We can also use it for event reminders or concerts to draw people in from all areas,” Boddorf said.

All residents have to do is sign up for emails or download the app on a smartphone. Residents will be able to start using it in the next few weeks as the municipalities work out the launch date.

“I think it would be pretty cool to learn, something I didn’t know of before,” Marsh said.

Because Savvy Citizens is a Pittsburgh-based company, it’s more affordable to these towns. All three can join for less than $10,000 a year. Right now, grant money will cover the first two years to test it out.

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RAW: 1 officer killed, another injured after shots fired in downtown Brackenridge; suspect dead

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