Law enforcement officials nationwide have apprehended about 90 fugitives as the result of tips from Comcast customers who saw the "most wanted" suspects on the Police Blotter video-on-demand service.
Comcast touted that number as part of launching Police Blotter in its latest market, Washington, D.C. The operator now makes the VOD service available in 24 markets in the U.S., including Philadelphia, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Delaware and Sacramento, Calif.
"As law enforcement officers, we are committed to protecting our communities and keeping dangerous criminals off the streets, and with Comcast's Police Blotter On Demand, we hope to bring even more fugitives to justice," Cathy Lanier, chief of Washington, D.C.'s police department, said in a statement.
Added D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, "This creative partnership between the Metropolitan Police Department and Comcast will give District residents the unique opportunity to take action and work together with law enforcement to help reduce crime."
In the D.C. market, Comcast's Police Blotter currently has profiles of 22 "most wanted" individuals as well as one missing person. New profiles are added on a monthly basis for Washington, D.C., and once a capture has been made on a "most wanted" profile, that profile is removed from the programming, said Comcast spokeswoman Aimee Metrick.
Comcast digital cable customers in the District of Columbia and the surrounding areas -- including Montgomery County, Frederick County, Prince George's County and Northern Virginia -- have access to the Police Blotter On Demand video profiles. The profiles include information on how to contact police anonymously.
To view Police Blotter On Demand, Comcast Digital TV customers can tune to Channel 1 on their Digital TV lineup or press the On Demand button on their remote control, then click on the "Get Local" section. A sample of the programming can be viewed here: http://comcastcreative.com/video/DC_PoliceBlotter.wmv
