New York City Joins ‘Citizen App’ to Improve Public Safety

In a bid to enhance public safety communications in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has introduced a new city-run account, “NYC Public Safety,” on the Citizen app. Thanks to the account, the city residents will be able to receive free public safety alerts through the popular app on Android and Apple devices. The public safety app pushes user alerts about incidents happening near their geographical location.

New York City enhances public safety comms with new Citizen app account

According to Mayor Eric Adams, the new “NYC Public Safety” account on the Citizen app aims to offer real-time, verified safety updates directly to the app’s over three million users in New York City. The account will ensure that critical information reaches the app’s subscribers across the five boroughs. 

“Whether it’s a heat emergency, a flood warning, a fire or crime, our new ‘NYC Public Safety’ account on Citizen will keep New Yorkers informed on threats and how their city government is working to keep them safe,” said Mayor Adams. 

The NYC government already has a presence on various social media channels, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, X, and the city’s own NotifyNYC channels. It’ll now also use the Citizen app’s already existing widely used platform to reduce barriers and create an enhanced public safety communications system.

The NYC Public Safety account on Citizen will release alerts about major incidents, safety tips about crime patterns, and scams. Furthermore, it’ll have verified updates from many city agencies, including the NYPD, FDNY, and NYC Emergency Management.

Citizen also allows users to directly report potential safety incidents

Citizen already allows subscribers to directly report potential safety incidents. Also, they can share videos and broadcast live footage of incidents within the app. The app can also send alerts to nearby smartphones “within seconds” of a 911 call or a user report, apart from providing a premium safety line to users.

NYC’s designated public safety agencies, like NYPD, FDNY, and NYCEM, have access to a secured dashboard that allows authorized personnel to view and download user-submitted videos. This will potentially aid investigations and emergency reviews.