Help Fight Crime

Washington County Sheriff’s Office launches new app for reporting substance use

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with Healthy Acadia to launch a new mobile app, WashingtonCo Sheriff, which allows residents of Washington County to anonymously notify law enforcement about underage drinking and illegal drug use.

A press release from Healthy Acadia states users of WashingtonCo Sheriff can submit tips directly from their smartphone via an anonymous text. Tipsters are encouraged to provide specific details about the location of the violation and the people involved, if possible. The tipster’s name and telephone number will remain completely anonymous.

They said the app is available for both iPhone and Android users and can be downloaded for free via the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store.

The sheriff’s office said residents in Washington County without a smartphone may still send an anonymous tip via text message to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office by texting the keyword WCSO and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411) from their cell phone.

Those without access to a cell phone may submit an anonymous tip online using the form found here: https://www.tip411.com/tips/new?alert_group_id=21864.

Read the full story from News Center Maine

Bismarck police to launch new anonymous text tip system

Bismarck Police to Launch New Anonymous Text Tip System

Bismarck Police Department is making some big changes for the new year. Crime Stoppers is out, and a new, anonymous text tip system will take its place.

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The new system, Tip411 will be used starting January 1st.

Tip411 allows users to text the police department, and officers can actually respond. So you can have a back and forth conversation, anonymously, to explain what you’ve witnessed.

You can even attach photos or video to your tip.

Bismarck Police Department Officer Lynn Wanner adds, “Because we’re making it a lot easier for people to use, especially on the go; I mean if they’re out somewhere and they see something it’s much easier to text in a tip while it’s going on, rather than having to make a phone call or wait to get back and get on a website and use it. So, we’re hoping this really increases the amount of tips that come in that are useful to us.”

The text exchange works on the app, or you can text directly to the Tip411 number: 847-411. Start your message with keyword BISPD.

Search Bismarck PD in the App Store or the Google Play Store. It’s available today.

See the story on KXnet.com

Ashland City police cruiser

Crime reporting app Tip411 coming soon to Ashland City

Ashland City residents will soon be able to submit anonymous tips and receive communications from the local police department using an app.

The Ashland City Council approved the Tip411 contract at its meeting Tuesday, locking in a three-year contract at $4,800, covered in the police department’s budget, Chief Marc Coulon said at the meeting.

Tip411 is used in more than 1,400 communities nationwide, according to the web-based tool’s website. That includes local, county, state and federal agencies, and even schools.

Tip411 “helps agencies engage community members of all ages by enabling anyone with a cell phone to submit tips via a smartphone app or text anonymous tips that can be responded to in real time by authorized personnel in the agency or organization,” it states.

Coulon said even Cheatham County residents outside of Ashland City can use the app to send tips to the Ashland City Police Department anonymously, and the department can relay those tips to the appropriate jurisdiction.

Citizens can also include image and video files to their web, text message or app tips to provide more specific information to Ashland City police, according to Tip411’s scope of services. The department will follow up on tips and will be able to respond to the anonymous tipster, archiving conversations.

Tip411 will assist the department in adding “submit a tip” and “sign up for alerts” buttons on the department’s website and social media pages, among other things.

Ashland City police can also send notifications — including maps, images, links, case information, suspect or missing person information and more — to users. Those alerts can also be posted to the department’s social media accounts.

Deputies will be able to log into Tip411 from anywhere with internet access on any device.

Coulon guessed that the service would be available to the public in about three weeks to a month.

Read the story from the Tennessean.

*This story incorrectly states the contract is for $3,600.

Atlantic city tip411 anonymous tip

Tip leads to Atlantic City heroin, cocaine arrest, cops say

A city man was arrested Wednesday after officers followed an anonymous tip and found him in possession of 285 bags of heroin and five grams of cocaine, police said.

Farod Chapman, 22, was arrested with 35 bags of heroin and 5 grams of cocaine just after 1 p.m. by Special Investigation Section detectives, police said in a statement.

Detectives recovered 250 more bags of heroin in a search of Chapman’s vehicle after Detective Brian Hambrecht’s K-9 partner Nikki, a narcotic detection dog, indicated the presence of drugs.

Chapman is charged with two counts each of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public zone.

He was released on a summons with a future court date.

Sgt. Richard Andrews and Detective Nick Berardis led the investigation. Detectives received information about Chapman distributing narcotics from tip411, an anonymous text service provider.

Tips can be shared with the Atlantic City Police Department Special Investigations Section to by texting tip411 (847411) or calling 609-347-5858. All texts are anonymous.

Read the full story from the Press of Atlantic City and see the tip411 Alert ACPD sent to residents announcing the arrest.

anonymous tips to law enforcement

New app allows Bradley Co. residents to give anonymous tips to law enforcement

Bradley County residents have a new way to submit tips to law enforcement agencies. They can send them anonymously through an app called tip411.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG2wVY8VP1Y]

Depending on if you live in the city of Cleveland or in Bradley County, you’ll need to download a specific app. On the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you will need to search for the following:

  • Cleveland residents: ClevelandTN PD
  • Bradley County residents: BradleyCo Sheriff

To submit an anonymous tip, all you do is hit tips, new tip, and fill in the boxes. You can also attach a picture or video.

From there, the tip is on its way to the law enforcement agency.

Authorities in Bradley County are now monitoring tips that come in through a new app. It’s anonymous.

“A lot of people are afraid and I think sometimes criminals instill fear in the people that live around them because they want to make sure they’re protected at all times and what they’re doing does not come to light,” Sgt. Evie West with the Cleveland Police Department said.

Police said the app is meant to report cases involving bullying or drugs and not emergencies.

Watch the full report from WRCBtv