Regular readers at the CopBlock Network are probably pretty familiar with the Cell 411 app, but in case you aren’t you can read posts on NVCopBlock.org about it and its many uses here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Obviously, it has several options that can be helpful during traditional emergencies such as fires, medical issues, and criminal threats or even more benign moments of need, such as car trouble. The app allows you to set up networks, known as “cells” with which you can communicate and, if necessary, request assistance from. It also allows you to send location information via GPS tracking to those that you trust to come to your aid. While these features are also helpful for people who have no intentional interest in eliminating their reliance on governmental emergency services, they were actually designed to enable users to “crowdsource your emergencies” as it says on the official Cell 411 website.
In addition, Cell 411 is advertised as something that was “built by and for activists.” As such, it also has certain features that can be used for CopBlocking. Besides the ones already mention involving communicating with trusted friends and the providing of your exact location to them in order for them to come to your aid, it includes a “know your rights” section and there’s also an option to stream live video to the internets. This both enables those you request assistance from to see what the threat is and also prevents police (or any other threat) from deleting any video footage you record from your phone. It can also warn people within your cell of speed traps and other revenue generation tactics being employed and allow them to avoid the effected area(s).
Interestingly enough, one of those pro-police websites has decided that they can use those features to generate more revenue at the expense of CopBlockers. BlueLivesMatter.blue is a site devoted to telling everybody that cops are heroes who should never be held accountable for their actions because bravery and danger and fear, while citizens should take personal responsibility for their actions and deserve to die if they don’t do exactly as their told by the angry, armed man threatening them because respect my authoritah. They’re basically a newer version of PoliceOne.com (who has also posted paranoid ramblings about Cell 411), but haven’t had to hide their comment section yet due to rampant racist and violent comments by cops, as PoliceOne.com did.
Here’s their take on the usefulness of Cell 411:
Cell 411 is a cell phone app which has been around for a while now on both Apple and Android platforms. Ostensibly, Cell 411 is an app which allows you to contact your closest friends and relatives “in case of an emergency.” It just so happens that these “emergencies” include getting stopped by the police, getting arrested, or the upstanding citizen just out CopBlocking.
Cell 411 users have the option to broadcast this information to their legion of rocket scientist friends, or in “Patrol Mode,” which broadcasts to all users within a 50 mile radius. The officer safety implications of this are clear. Criminals such as Black Lives Matter and police agitators can now push a button to call for help from their friends, whenever they are contacted by law enforcement. However, this also opens up a great opportunity for law enforcement when it comes to dealing with these people.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to use Cell 411 to have fun with your shift:
- Step 1: Download Cell 411 from your Google Play or iTunes store.
- Step 2: Go to a low traffic area of your beat.
- Step 3: Set Cell 411 to Patrol Mode and then initiate a fake police event, such as a traffic stop or arrest.
- Step 4: Get your ticket-book ready, and conduct a traffic emphasis patrol in the area.
Remember folks, this is a group activity.
Of course, the flaw in their brilliant plan is that less and less people actually trust cops (for good reason) and this app is geared toward people connecting with trustworthy people who are actually willing to help their fellow citizens. So, you should still download Cell 411 for all the great benefits, but just ensure you are careful who you respond to. You don’t want to run into a cop who is really bored by his strenuous day and has decided to look for a little easy revenue at the expense of your good will.
Kelly is a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, who’s been very active in local grassroots activism, as well as on a national level during his extensive travels. He’s also the founder/main contributor of Nevada Cop Block, served as editor/contributor at CopBlock.org and designed the Official Cop Block Press Passes.
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Connect with Kelly at these social networks; Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
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