Technologically speaking, the Kent Police Department was a bit behind the times, launching its own website only two months ago.Now it’s ahead of the curve as one of the first agencies in the area to post accident reports online.The reports are easy to find to access. One click opens a PDF file of any accident. They are posted as soon as possible and are listed by date, so there is no need to know report numbers, names or locations.On Tuesday, reports from Nov. 1, when the site was started, through Monday were already online.“It’s mutually beneficial,” Lt. Paul Canfield said.“People are more wired and they’re used to getting things online, so it’s convenient for them,” he said. Meanwhile, it saves records personnel time from having to fill requests from drivers and insurance companies.A check of area police department websites found that few post accident reports online, and none seemed as easy to access as Kent’s.Akron and Brimfield Township reports are available but request specific search information.Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Hudson, Stow and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office do not post reports online.The Ohio Highway Patrol will fill an online request for an accident report, but seven days after an accident, and the report then will remain available online for only 72 hours.The new Kent Police website (www.kentpd.org) also features a “Crime Stoppers” link showing videos and photos of suspects in recent cases. Right now, visitors can help identify two men in the process of stealing laptop computers from a downtown business, and see a video of another man attempting to rob a local boutique.Other features include a week-by-week recap of the recently completed Citizens Police Academy and a link that explains the process of being arrested and booked into jail.“For a smaller agency, the cost of information technology can be a little bit of a burden,” Canfield said, explaining why it took so long for the department to get its own website. “But it’s certainly more of an efficient way of [getting information] out to the public.”Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.