About The Samaritan Hotel Initiative
Department of Justice defines community policing and the
role of the for-profit businesses as having “a great stake in the health of the
community and can be key partners because they often bring considerable
resources to bear in addressing problems of mutual concern. Businesses can help
identify problems and provide resources for responses, often including their
own security technology and community outreach. The local chamber of commerce
and visitor centers can also assist in disseminating information about police
and business partnerships and initiatives, and crime prevention practices.”
Hotels, in particular, have a great impact on community
safety; on the one hand, they should and must follow the privacy concerns,
policies, and laws pertaining to the hotels; on the other, they have a moral
obligation and business interest in safeguarding the safety of their visitors
and their communities.
The Samaritan Hotel has created a simple to use reporting
application that helps hotel guests report “suspicious activities” and their
concerns to the hotels and, optionally, to the local law enforcement authorities
without fear of reprisal. The collected data also gather a statistical pattern
that will help everyone involved in improving local safety without treading on
individual rights.
To learn more, please read “Community Policing Defined,” published
by the US Department of Justice.
How does it work?
We have created a digital framework with a beautiful QR sign
that will be placed in hotel rooms. The sign encouraged guests to report any
safety-related issues directly to the hotel management by simply pointing their
phone at the QR Code and answering a few questions. Of course, the guest can stay
anonymous if they prefer. The local PD can optionally receive these reports.
While we understand that these reports are not necessarily
accurate, the statistical data will support the hotel and community in
monitoring the trends.
More importantly, based on our experience, once the hotel
places these signs in the rooms, most visitors who intend illegal activities
will refrain from moving forward with their plans. This system has evolved to
be a primarily preventive and proactive tool.
How much does it cost?
The monthly fee is currently $48 per month. There is a one-time setup fee and the cost of the in-room signs that are about $4 each as of early 2022. There is no longterm contract.
Contact Samaritan Hotel Initiative
Add your hotel