Category: In The News

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

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 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

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.