Category: In The News

Chelmsford PD Chief James Spinney announced on Aug. 20 the launch of the Chelmsford PD app that aims to help residents connect with the department, find information, view alerts and submit anonymous tips from their smartphone and smart devices.

Beginning Aug. 20, residents can download the app for free and use the Chelmsford PD app to submit tips and information to the Chelmsford Police Department via the app, text, a link on the town website and a link embedded on the police department’s Facebook page. Sign-up is available either online or on a mobile device. Residents can download the app through a link on the town website and an informational video can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3l3GT6Z.

“We strongly encourage residents to download the Chelmsford PD app to stay informed and access information at their convenience,” said Spinney. “This easy-to-use app allows residents to send and receive important alerts directly on their mobile devices and lets us reach a significant percentage of the community in an instant during an emergency.”

Developed by tip411, any tips sent through the Chelmsford PD app will be completely anonymous and all identifying information is removed before police receive a tip. The public may share an anonymous tip with police and officers can respond back to create an anonymous two-way conversation. Tips received can be managed and sorted by police.

The Chelmsford Police Department can also send out messages through the app dashboard for residents to receive by text, Twitter, Facebook and app notification. With the app, the police department can now send out and receive information all on one platform.

Police may broadcast emergency messages statewide to any person who has the Chelmsford PD app and approximately 30 police departments use the app in Massachusetts.

Residents in Chelmsford without a smartphone may still send an anonymous text tip via their cell phone to police by texting “CHELMSFORDPD” and their message/tip to 847411. 

Read the full post from Wicked Local Chelmsford

The Fargo Police Department is increasing its crime-fighting arsenal with its new Fargo PD app to help residents connect with the department to find information, view alerts, and submit anonymous tips from their smartphone.

Developed by tip411, the Fargo PD app puts a powerful new crime-fighting tool into the hands of the community members of all ages. The Fargo PD app is available for download for free via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store.

“Our mission is to reduce crime and the fear of crime through outstanding police services in partnership with the community,” said Deputy Chief Joe Anderson of the Investigations Division. “Our new tip411 service will be a great help to us and we believe the addition of this new Fargo PD app will allow us to have an even deeper crime-fighting partnership with our residents.”

The Fargo PD app will greatly improve the public’s access to agency alerts, social media channels, important information, and more to help fight crime,” said tip411 President Terry Halsch.

The Fargo PD app and the tip411 anonymous text a tip system are 100% anonymous, as the technology removes all identifying information before police see the tips and there is no way to identify the sender.

Residents without a smartphone will still be able to send an anonymous text a tip via their cell phone to police by texting keyword FARGOPD and their message/tip to 847411. Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the Fargo Police Department website.

Read the full story from WZFG

Related stories

• Fargo PD PIO Interview – Part 1
• Fargo PD PIO Interview – Part 2

The Vilas County Sheriff’s Office is increasing its crime-fighting arsenal with a new app and system to allow residents to submit anonymous tips from their phone.

Developed by tip411, the Vilas County Sheriff’s app puts a powerful new crime-fighting tool into the hands of community members of all ages. 

The Vilas County Sheriff’s app is available for download for free via the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, or by visiting the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office website.

“We are dedicated to serve and protect the life and property of all full-time residents, part-time residents, and visitors of Vilas County,” said Sheriff Joseph Fath. “We believe the new Vilas County Sheriff’s app will help us improve the level and quality of service we provide by more easily connecting the public to our deputies to increase safety.”

The Vilas County Sheriff’s app and tip411 anonymous text a tip system are 100% anonymous, as the technology removes all identifying information before law enforcement see the tips and there is no way to identify the sender.

“We’ve listened to feedback from partners like Vilas County and have built a more advanced and innovative product to help departments better engage their communities,” said tip411 President Terry Halsch. “The Vilas County Sheriff’s app powered by tip411 will greatly improve the public’s ability to contact the Sheriff’s Office to help fight crime.”

Residents in Vilas County without a smartphone can send an anonymous text tip via their cell phone to police by texting keyword VILAS and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the department’s website.

Read the story from News12 WJFW

It’s not for emergencies, or to take the place of 911, but a new service offered by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office will allow residents to find information, see alerts and send anonymous tips directly to the Sheriff’s Office from a smartphone.

The MacombCo Sheriff app has been developed by tip411 and is available for free download via the iTunes App Store or the Google Play Store. In addition, tips can be sent via text message or through a website directly to the Sheriff’s Office to provide multiple channels for law enforcement to reach out to the community, according to Tony Stano, the sales director for tip411, which developed the app.

An important feature of the app, text or web submission is that tipsters remain completely anonymous while also being able to engage in a two-way conversation with the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office about their tip, Stano explained.

“They’re able to reply to engage that (tipster) without ever knowing who that individual is,” Stano said.

Without the mobile app, tips can be submitted by texting MCSO to 847411, or through sheriff.macombgov.org.

The mobile app also allows the department to push out important community alerts, such as surveillance photos of a suspect at large with a description of the alleged crime, to engage the community and solicit tips.

“Right from the alert, they hit ‘submit a tip’ and they’re talking to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office directly,” Stano said.

While some law enforcement agencies put out similar queries on Facebook or through other social media outlets, those wishing to provide information still have a screen name attached to their comment. The app allows them to remain completely anonymous instead.

“At the end of the day, we want folks to engage in a conversation,” Stano said.

The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office is looking for more ways to communicate with residents, according to Public Information Officer Renee Yax.

“Not everyone has social media and/or watches the news or reads the paper,” she said, explaining that news agencies also can’t always publish every story the Sheriff’s Office sends their way. “This app allows us to push out what we feel is important for our citizens to know regardless of what world events are occurring.”

Read the full story from CandGNews.com