The public data feed Spotcrime was using to map LAPD data was interrupted in 2011 when LAPD moved from an open mapping system to first providing data solely to the LA Times and then contracting with a police vendor to map crime for the public.
Recently, the LAPD published a public crime data feed again on their website via a FTP (file transfer protocol). We feel this is great step in the right direction for departments, especially for departments of LAPD's size. A public data feed in spreadsheet format available for anyone to view electronically with no restrictions on sharing shows true transparency with crime data within a department.
Make sure to thank the LAPD for their work toward publishing a feed. And if you live in the LA area, be sure to sign up for your local crime alert from SpotCrime. We will send you a crime map tailored to your address and specific radius directly to your inbox!
Stay aware, stay safe.
If you need a guide to the crime code classifications used by the LAPD, here's a link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AsxlSLsuSmSBdHdUQy1NVzFEd0FlWE95Y3J2Z0pSNVE&output=html
Add a comment