On March 12, Elizabethton Police began investigating several burglaries at local businesses.
Shortly thereafter, still photos from surveillance video were release to the media and public asking for help identifying the suspects.
On March 19, police received tips identifying the suspects and an arrest was made.
The global coronavirus pandemic is affecting our world in a truly unprecedented manner.
We know that our partners in law enforcement are on the front line in our country’s effort to reduce the spread of the COVID-19. Our hearts go out to anyone who has been impacted directly by the virus.
During times like these, when direct contact with citizens is limited due to social distancing, the closure of public buildings, and more, we want you to know that tip411 is here to support your agency as you try to find ways to connect with your community.
One of the best, easiest, and most direct ways you can reach your residents and update them on important COVID-19 information in your community is by sending email and/or text alerts through tip411.
Many agencies are already doing this, and you have the ability to as well.
But this doesn’t have to just be about public safety – You and your municipality can use tip411 as a way to communicate directly with residents on a host of topics in a safe and instant way.
We want to reassure you that tip411 is monitoring the situation closely so we can make sure that we are meeting the needs of our customers.
Please visit our tip411 training page to watch a training video on how to create alerts if you need refresher on how it works.
Tips can now be sent to the department through a new app from tip411 called the Badlands Crime Stoppers app, which is available for free through both the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store.
“This seems to be something that was going to help make the organization more alluring for our community. Ease of access – download on your phone, just hit the button on it … as opposed to remembering numbers and things like that,” said Sgt. Kylan Klauzer, program coordinator of Badlands Crime Stoppers.
In addition to allowing members of the public to send the department tips, it acts as a one stop shop for police department information.
“It’s got links that will get you to the Dickinson Police Department web page, Facebook page and other social media platforms that down the road, we can implement … The big one from this that the board of directors paid for through some donations from the community … when we need to push alerts out, we can push alerts through the application,” Klauzer said.
Anyone with the app will receive alerts to their phone. The app also allows for two-way communication between the tipster and the police.
A press release from tip411 states that the system is 100% anonymous and that the system removes all identifying information, leaving no way to identify the sender, before the tip is sent to the police.
“Sometimes people have their own issues with calling the police department, even if it’s on a non-emergency line … This is just another good way hopefully we can make people feel more comfortable in providing information and knowing that their identity is anonymous,” Klauzer said.
He highly encourages members of the community to download the app to get information flowing as freely as possible.
Those without a smartphone can still share information with police by sending an anonymous tip via text message texting BADLANDSTIP and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411) or by submitting tips through the department’s website at www.DickinsonPD.com.
Dickinson Police Chief Dustin Dassinger said in a press release, “Our continuing goal is to make the city of Dickinson a safe place in which to live, work and play. We believe our new Badlands Crime Stoppers app from tip411 will help greatly enhance our ability to deliver on that mission by engaging our community to help fight crime.”
Read the full post from The Dickinson Press
Three new phone applications are boosting the power of the Port Wentworth Police Department. Detectives say they are solving more crimes and keeping people safe with a better alert system.
One app is called “Tip411.” It allows police to send people quick and urgent alerts about suspects, kidnapping victims and more.
The app also has a tab for police to request information about certain crimes. Another feature gives people an opportunity to submit detailed tips, pictures, and videos about anything else.
Port Wentworth Detective Jeffrey McMurry says the app has helped solve cases like hit and runs, which are notoriously hard to solve. The detective says nearly every tip has led to an arrest or prosecution, or has furthered the investigation in some way.
“We’ve gotten more tips because of these apps. More people are willing to explain more of what’s going on,” said Det. McMurry.
Det. McMurry says people are also more willing to give more descriptive information on the apps, which makes their investigations run smoother and more quickly.
Police are also relying on the Nexdoor and Ring Neighbors apps for anonymous tips and information about what is happening around the city. Police get one or more helpful tips per week on one of the three applications.
In addition to phone applications, police are still using CrimeStoppers as a source for anonymous tips. If you would rather call a tip in, the line is always open. The number is 912-234-2020. Port Wentworth Police get at least one useful phone call per month.
Det. McMurry says police explained the Tip411 app to residents at a town hall on Monday. He says the feedback was all positive.
“They’re loving the fact that we’re getting out there and being more accessible to citizens within the city,” he said.
The Tip411 app, Ring Neighbors app and Nextdoor app are all available for free in the Google Play and Apple app stores.
To download the Tip411 app, search for ‘Port Wentworth PD’ in the search bar.
The town has launched a new app that allows residents to connect with the Arlington Police Department to find information, view alerts and submit anonymous tips from their smartphone.
The Arlington Police Department app and tip411 anonymous text-a-tip system are 100 percent anonymous, as the technology removes all identifying information before police see the tips and there is no way to identify the sender. This allows the public to share an anonymous tip with police and lets officers respond back to create an anonymous two-way conversation.
“I believe that a police department is only as strong and successful as the community it serves,” Chief Juliann Flaherty said in a statement. “That’s why our new Arlington PD app from tip411 will help greatly enhance our ability to engage our community to help fight crime. Other police departments are successfully using this program, such as the Lynn Police Department.”
The program was started and is solely monitored by the police department. The texts go straight to Arlington detectives.
Superintendent Kathleen Bodie said the district will work to promote tip411 among students, staff, parents and guardians in the community.
“This will be another great tool we have to keep our students and community safe,” Bodie said in a statement. “We look forward to partnering with Arlington Police to promote and educate students and their families about how to use the app.”
Developed by tip411, the Arlington Police Department app is available for download for free via the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, or by visiting the Arlington Police Department website at www.ArlingtonMA.gov/police.
Those without a smartphone will still be able to share information with police by sending an anonymous text tip via their cell phone to police by texting keyword ARLINGTONPD and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the department’s website at www.ArlingtonMA.gov/police.
Tip411 should not be used if you or someone else is in imminent danger. Please call 911 in the event of an emergency.
