Rockland Crime Analysis Center

tip411’s Value Increases as Residents Need to Communicate Safely with Law Enforcement During COVID-19

Law enforcement and community organizations using tip411 are seeing usage increases of up to 40% in the number of tips they are receiving particularly regarding domestic and partner violence during COVID-19.

A recent example from the Rockland County, New York, District Attorney’s Office is below:

“This actually makes social distancing, and all the things the governor and the president have been talking about for the last several months… it makes Tip411 more viable for the citizenry,” says Sgt. Earl Lorence, Director of the Rockland Crime Analysis Center.

More and more people are turning to technology to report crime in the Hudson Valley.

The Rockland County DA’s office says it has seen a more than 40% increase in people using its tip411 mobile app this year over 2019. The top three most reported crimes this year are domestic violence, drugs, and violations of the state’s coronavirus safety guidelines.

The Tip411 system is helping to solve crimes.

Anyone can submit information directly to the DA’s office through the app or website, and it can be done anonymously.

See the full story from News12.com

Windham Police Department

Anonymous Tip System Helps Keep Community Safe

Windham residents now have access to a new tool to help keep their community safe. With the introduction of the new Windham PD App, developed by tip411, anonymous tips can be submitted via the app, text, or website.

“The mission of the Windham Police Department is to provide the citizens of the town of Windham a safe, secure community in which the protection of life and property are the highest  priority,” said Kevin L. Schofield, Chief of Police, in a press release. “Making it easier for residents to connect with us to provide information is paramount to our efforts, and we believe our new tip411 system will help keep our community safe.”

The idea rose out of an old system that was in place years ago that centered around combatting underage drinking said Capt. William Andrew. With that system, someone could call and leave a tip about a party, or if someone needed help.

Managing that individually was difficult, Andrew said, so the department began to explore other platforms that were available to the general public.

The department received a grant from the Be The Influence coalition and partnered with tip411, which is also used by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency as well as other Maine communities.

A few months of behind the scenes work was necessary before launching the app, such as development of apps for both Apple and android products; determining who would receive the tips; getting quotes for the cost of the service; and exploring the cost to include the school department as they develop an avenue for submitting school-related tips, which will be available at a later date. 

Tips submitted to the anonymous tip line will trigger an email alert that goes to specific members of the Windham police department. Tips will also be monitored as they are received by the dispatch center at Cumberland County Regional Communications Center. 

“Some tips don’t need immediate attention,” Andrew said.  Others need to be addressed right away.  The dispatch center will monitor incoming tips and triage the calls to determine if they need to be brought to the department’s attention immediately.”

Read the full story from The Windham Eagle

Port Huron PD launches app for anonymous tips

Port Huron Police Department Launches New App for Anonymous Tips

The Port Huron Police Department in Michigan recently launched tip411 as a replacement for their previous Tipsoft system after noting in their Annual Report that citizen online reported dropped significantly over the last few years.

When asked about how the implementation of their new tip411 anonymous tip system has been going, Port Huron PD Captain Marcy Kuehn had this to say:

“A thousand percent improvement over the system we did have… We probably get about a tip a day and just had someone send us video of an armed robbery that helped us solve it.” 

Interested in learning more about tip411 and how it can help your department engage the public to help fight crime? Email info@tip411.com to get in touch today. 

Read the story below about Port Huron’s launch from WGRT:

The Port Huron Police Department launched a new app available for free on the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, or by visiting the Port Huron Police Department’s website at www.porthuronpolice.org and clicking on the CAPTURE symbol.

“The Port Huron Police Department responds to community needs through a combined strategy of preventative, proactive and reactive policing programs, said Chief Joseph Platzer. “This is a combined effort – not just with our officers, but with our residents as a whole, and I believe our new Port Huron PD app will help us work even more closely with the public to keep our community safe.” The new Port Huron PD app enables the public to share an anonymous tip with police and lets officers respond back to create an anonymous two-way conversation.

“We’ve listened to feedback from partners like Port Huron Police and have built a more advanced and innovative product to help departments better engage their communities,” said tip411 President Terry Halsch. “The Port Huron PD app powered by tip411 will greatly improve the public’s access to help fight crime.” The Port Huron PD app and 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 in Port Huron 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 CAPTURE and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the department’s website at www.porthuronpolice.org and clicking on the CAPTURE symbol.

Macomb County Sheriff cruiser

Sheriff’s Office launches new tip411 app for customized crime fighting

The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office is increasing its crime-fighting arsenal with a new app to help residents connect with the Sheriff’s Office to find information, view alerts, and submit anonymous tips from their smartphone.

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

“The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office is committed to improving the quality of life in our county through connecting with our residents,” Macomb County Sheriff Anthony M. Wickersham said. “I believe our new app will help us work with our residents to keep our communities safe.”

“We’ve listened to feedback from communities like Macomb County and have built a more advanced and innovative product to help agencies better engage their residents,” said tip411 President Terry Halsch. “The MacombCo Sheriff app powered by tip411 will greatly improve the public’s access to agency alerts, social media channels, important information, and more to help fight crime.”

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

The MacombCo Sheriff app is not meant for emergencies, or even the urgent need of police assistance. Always call 9-1-1 for all emergency situations. The tip411 app is for providing information after a crime has occurred or to let the Sheriff’s Office know about on-going issues in a community.

Residents in Macomb County without a smartphone can send an anonymous text tip via their cell phone to deputies by texting keyword MCSO and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the Sheriff’s Office website at sheriff.macombgov.org.

tip411 an Important Tool for the Public & Law Enforcement to Protect Peaceful Protests & Bring Criminals to Justice

With protest, unrest, and unease gripping cities and towns across the US, many agencies and law-abiding citizens are feeling helpless in the face of violence and uncertainty.

tip411 is a simple and effective tool that both law enforcement and the public can rely on during this time and in the future. Law abiding citizens are turning to tip411 to communicate with their local jurisdictions in unprecedented numbers. In fact, over the last 7 days tip411 has seen a 250% increase in usage by law enforcement and the public. It can be quickly deployed and used to help keep communities safe from violent agitators trying to corrupt peaceful protests and bring looters to justice.

Departments can use tip411 to push information out via text message and email directly to subscribers in their community to:

  1. Communicate important and timely public safety information

  

2. Share messages from your chief or on behalf of the department and bypass the media’s filter

3. Ask for residents’ help in identifying those committing criminal acts in the name of protest movements

And residents can use tip411 to share information anonymously with law enforcement if they know of information that may lead to chaos among peaceful protestors, plans to damage property, or to help identify those who commit assaults against police or participate in looting or other crimes.

Let us help you help your communities. Contact us at info@tip411.com for more information today.