YAKIMA, Wash. — Yakima police are launching a new system to help hotels warn each other and law enforcement agencies about potential frauds and other problems.

A training session is set for this morning. It will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Yakima Police Athletic building, 602 N. Fourth St.

Police say the system, known as Merchant Alert, will be tested by about 20 hotels and motels in Yakima and Union Gap for about two months before final implementation. It’s intended for use statewide.

The police department is close to releasing a similar program, known as Business Watch, for other local businesses.

More information about the two systems is available by calling Officer Jaime Gonzalez at 509-575-6200.

— Mark Morey