Rogers County Sheriff’s Office implements new data system to boost crime response

The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office is rolling out a new data-driven system aimed at improving crime response and decision-making, thanks to a federal grant from the Department of Justice.

Undersheriff Jonathan Sappington said the new system, developed with the help of the Crime Analytics Reduction in Residence (CAR) program, will give deputies access to real-time crime data and statistics directly in the field through a mobile app.

Why is data important?

“So I think it’s proven in society that data drives everything,” Sappington said. “And when you want to be making decisions, especially with your taxpayer money, you want to be data-driven.”

The office has collected operational data since 2016, but until now, it had no way to make that information actionable for deputies on the go.

What is CAR?

Sappington, who described himself as not an analyst and a computer guru, taught himself much of the system development process before turning to CAR for support in program development and IT infrastructure.

“For me to be able to identify problems as quickly and easily as I am and to be able to tie them together—to me, it’s a game changer,” he said.

The CAR program has helped the sheriff’s office translate its internal crime data into accessible, real-time tools that can help law enforcement serve warrants faster, identify repeat offenders, and target emerging crime trends. Sappington said it also helps when seeking funding or justifying resource allocations.

“Being able to prove that to your board of county commissioners or for your budget or for grants and projects,” he said, “that’s huge.”

When will deputies start using the program?

The program is currently in partial use, and the department expects it to be fully deployed to all deputies by the end of June. Eventually, officials hope to make some of the data accessible to the public, though no timeline has been set for that rollout.

When asked if the new system would make the community safer, Sappington responded without hesitation: “Oh yes, in a heartbeat.”