Kokomo PD
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tip411 Customer Profile: Kokomo Police Department

tip411 recently interviewed Major Brian Seldon of the Kokomo, Indiana Police Department (89 sworn officers), about his agency’s use of tip411’s anonymous tips tool. Major Seldon said the tip411 tool has made it easier for their agency to communicate with their citizens, along with solving more crime and gathering more information using tip411 than before they had tip411.

Q: How has the tip411 system aided your department?
A: From our perspective, tip411 is a great tool for our agency. As one of the agency’s Public Information Officers, I found that the platform made it more efficient to send out press releases to media outlets, alerts, and the overall effectiveness of just communicating with our citizens. The platform has made it so much easier for residents to provide information to the police and remain anonymous. Prior to tip411, our agency utilized social media platforms such as Facebook to engage citizens. With the social media features of tip411, the sharing of information to Facebook and Twitter just made it so much easier to manage. 

Q: Any notable tips/arrests credited to tip411 that come to mind?
A:  We have too many tip/arrests to name.  This software has definitely benefited our agency. 

Q: Any advice for other departments considering tip411?
A: The ease of the platform makes it so much efficient and effective to share information with the media and citizens. The app also makes it so much easier for individuals to share information with the police and remain anonymous.  It is our experience since rolling out the app that the public feels more comfortable sharing information with our department. We definitely feel that we have solved more crime, gathered more information, and more with tip411 than before we had tip411. The company and their support staff have also been pleasant and helpful to work with. 

Q: What have you done to promote your tip411 system to make sure residents know about it and use it?
A: We promoted tip411 by the flyer prepared and provided by tip411. We also provided business cards to our officers for them to pass out while they are patrolling the streets. In addition, we have a vinyl banner promoting tip411 that we display at our public events to promote the app and encourage downloads and use.

Q: How is tip411 administered in your department (responsibilities, protocols, etc.)?
A: When we first initiated tip411, I was the main administrator and had two individuals who managed the tips when they came in. With promoting the platform, I saw that it was gaining interest and we started receiving more tips on cases. Now, myself and two others send alerts to media outlets, citizens, and local crime watch groups and then two other staff manage the tips as they come in from the public. These two individuals assign the tips to the patrol, criminal investigation section, or the drug unit.   

Q: How did you hear about tip411?
A: We launched tip411 in July of 2022. We were looking for additional ways for our agency to connect with citizens of the community and continue to find way to keep our community safe and solve crimes. 

Q: Tell us about your community and the Kokomo Police Department (how many residents, how many sworn, etc.).
A: The City of Kokomo, Indiana is the county seat of Howard County. The city is 36.79 square miles with an estimated population of 59,691. Our department has between 80 and 90 sworn police officers.

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sspencer0602 In The News

tip411 Assists in Alleged Threat Arrest with Princeton Police Department

With assistance from tip411’s anonymous tip platform, the Princeton Police Department (25 sworn officers) was able to make an arrest for a terroristic threat that “placed the public in fear” at Clark Middle School.

Princeton Police Crusier Image tip411

The investigation into a specific student was launched based on an anonymous message sent through tip411 highlighting a threat posted on social media. 

The tip allowed the Princeton ISD (PISD) to be notified of the concern immediately. After identifying a Clark student as a possible subject, they conducted a thorough investigation that included reviewing the suspect’s social media and searching their home.

A statement issued by Interim Police Chief James Waters and Jean Ann Collins, communications coordinator for the Princeton ISD said, “Based on the evidence collected, an arrest warrant was obtained, and officers took the suspect into custody.”

The PISD and Princeton PD said they would continue to take every threat seriously and are committed to pursuing prosecution to the full extent of the law.

“We would like to commend the actions of this tipster, who took the right steps to bring this situation to a safe and swift end,” the statement also said. 

Anyone with knowledge about threats should immediately inform campus administration, a Princeton Police school resource officer, or the police department.

The Princeton Police Department mobile app is available to download for free from the Google Play Store and the iTunes App Store. Citizens can also submit an anonymous text tip via their cell phone by texting the keyword “PPDTIP” and their message/tip to 847411.

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sspencer0602 In The News

Tifton Police Launches tip411 Anonymous Tip Tool

tip411 Police Badgetip411 has recently partnered with the Tifton Police Department (51 sworn officers) to help provide a tool to the public that makes reporting crimes easier, safer, and more convenient. 

Since the launch, Tifton PD has already received multiple tips such as anonymous conversations between citizens and police officers, photos, and videos.

“What we’re trying to do with this is trying to use it to help reduce crimes in our neighborhood, around our stores, things like that,” Tifton Police Chief Steve Hyman said. “The public are our eyes and ears; they are places that we aren’t and they can use this app to get us in the places we need to be so we can prevent their neighbors from becoming a victim or something being stolen from them.”

The Tifton Police Department mobile app is available to download for free from the Google Play Store and the iTunes App Store. Citizens can also submit an anonymous text tip via their cell phone by texting the keyword “TIFTONPD” and their message/tip to 847411.

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Alaska State Troopers
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tip411 Customer Profile: Alaska State Troopers

tip411 recently interviewed Trooper Austin McDaniel of the Alaska Department of Public Safety (350 sworn officers) about his agency’s use of tip411’s anonymous tips tool. In particular, Trooper McDaniel said his agency has received over 1,000 tips about suspicious drug activity, leading to the seizure of millions of doses of fentanyl in 2022, a record high.

Q: How has the tip411 system aided your agency?
A: tip411 has been a critical tool to help combat drug trafficking that is occurring across urban and rural Alaska. We have received 1,100 tips about suspicious drug activity occurring around the state, and these valuable tips helped DPS seize millions of potentially fatal doses of fentanyl in 2022, a record high.

Q: Any notable tips/arrests credited to tip411 that come to mind?
A: A serial arsonist that terrorized a small Interior Alaska community was arrested in 2022. Anonymous tips helped lay the groundwork for our investigators to make the case. We have also arrested dozens of drug traffickers and individuals with warrants due to the actionable information provided by tip411 tipsters.

Q: What have you done to promote your tip411 system to make sure residents know about it and use it?
A: We have utilized business cards, encourage commanders to reference it during community gatherings and meetings that they attend, and conducted a robust advertising campaign in January 2023 to encourage suspicious drug trafficking tips. During the $40,000 advertising campaign funded by our state HIDTA initiative, we saw a 318% increase in tip submissions and a 197% increase in drug seizures.

Q: Many of our customers are local police departments. Being a state agency, what advice would you give to other agencies like yours who may be considering tip411 or an anonymous tip solution?
A: tip411’s customer support, onboarding, and platform are the best we have seen. It is easy to assign tips to a unit or area for follow up investigation. The alert function is industry best.

Q: Anything else that’s important to note?
A: We have been thoroughly impressed by the tip411 platform since we began using it widely in 2019. We have received hundreds of actionable tips that we are able to have anonymous conversations with the tipsters that have greatly aided our investigations and have helped make our state a safer place to live, work, visit, and raise a family.

Q: Tell us about your agency (how many sworn, how many areas/miles are under your jurisdiction, etc.) and the agency’s role in the state.
A: The Alaska Department of Public Safety includes the three statewide law enforcement agencies that serve Alaskans including the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, and State Fire Marshals Office. We provide primary police protection for approximately 400,000 Alaska citizens. Our 410 law enforcement officers responded to over 140,000 calls for service last year and conducted over 500 search and rescues. Alaska does not have a county law enforcement system, so if there is no city police department for your community, the primary law enforcement agency is the Alaska State Troopers.

Q: How is tip411 administered in your agency (responsibilities, protocols, etc.)?
A: Our public information office manages the alerts that are issued and our statewide intelligence center triages all incoming tips and assigns them to investigators and officers to further follow up on.

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sspencer0602 In The News

tip411 Tip Leads to Environmental Violation for the Department of Land and Natural Resources: Honolulu Hawaii

The Department of Land and Natural Resources in Honolulu Hawaii recently received an anonymous tip directly involving a beach-going couple participating in “irresponsible activity” around a sleeping monk seal.

Since monk seals are considered one of the most endangered marine species, DLNR is using this opportunity to bring more awareness on how to observe these animals.

The anonymous tip, provided through the tip411 customizable platform, included multiple images of a couple who were dangerously close to the sleeping animal taking photos. Not only were the couple involved in a dangerous activity, but they also had a dog off leash providing another violation.

Although this couple has not been identified, similar violations have been cited for others participating in similar activity in the past.

“Regrettably we did not have an officer in the area, but we wanted to release the tipster’s photographs to illustrate this irresponsible behavior,” DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla said.tip411 monk seal couple violation

“Monk seal pupping on beaches like Kaimana in Waikīkī, illustrate the protection and care that DLNR, NOAA, and other partners institute to protect seals. They are critically endangered and have the highest levels of protection available.”

DLNR officials added they hope people become educated on safe viewing rules and guidelines.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources in Honolulu Hawaii mobile app is available to download for free from the Google Play Store and the iTunes App Store. 

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