UC startup helps police departments prevent, solve crime

Peel9 offers a comprehensive record management system for its customers with offense and non-criminal reporting, evidence management, a traffic crash module, call management, case management, data analytics and more.

Levy likened traditional records management systems to a filing cabinet that stores data that agencies collect but is not very actionable. Peel9, meanwhile, makes data instantly accessible and allows it to be shared easily with anyone including other police departments, city council members, media organizations and community members, he said.

Being able to easily share data should help departments build trust in their communities as they can show residents what police are doing and is a key component to Peel9’s efforts to help reduce crime.

“You would think that just happens naturally. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen as much as you would like to see it,” Levy said of data sharing among departments. “Crime has no boundaries, so it’s important to foster easier collaboration between law enforcement agencies.”

Peel9’s software links people, places and vehicles to help fight and solve crime.

It also offers caution indicators to keep officers and community members safer during encounters, such as notes about when individuals are known to be violent, have mental health issues or have health issues such as Alzheimer’s.

The leaders of Peel9 have extensive experience in policing and serving their communities.

Chief Technology Officer Murat Ozer, who has a doctorate from UC, is a former Turkish national police counterterrorism expert, an assistant professor in UC’s School of Information Technology and the author of Peel9’s software.

Chief Marketing Officer Tim Sabransky, who has a master’s degree from UC, retired as a police chief and has 32 years of policing experience. He most recently was a senior research associate in UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services.

Director of Business Development Daniel Gerard, who has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UC, spent 32 years with the Cincinnati Police Department and was the director of operations for UC’s Institute of Crime Science.

They developed the idea for Peel9 and brought it to the Venture Lab, where they met Levy.

“They were working on it for about a year or so before they brought it to 1819, and I started working with them,” Levy said. “I realized quickly — they did, too — that they needed software business acumen; they were all former police officers, and so that’s what I brought to the table, the business side of bringing a product to the market.”

Levy, who previously worked in advertising, marketing and software, expected his involvement in the startup to be temporary. He’s remained with Peel9, though, because he believes in the company’s mission and enjoys working with the group, which also has developers across the U.S. and in Europe.