More School Safety Measures
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tip411 Part of Push for More School Safety Measures in McKinney, Texas

McKinney ISD Superintendent Rick McDaniel and McKinney Mayor George Fuller held a town hall meeting with the public Wednesday night to discuss concerns and suggestions related to the safety and security of children at MSID.

“We got a lot of what we hoped for,” Fuller said, referring to personal observations from those outside the district as well.

Much of the discussion focused on what safety measures the district currently has in place, including the number of new security cameras across the district.

MISD also has Crisis Counselors dedicated to bullying on campuses and a Tip 411 line, which allows students to anonymously report if they hear rumors or concerns about safety and security.

Read the full story from Community Impact Newspaper

Syracuse Police
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New Syracuse Police Phone App Informs About Nearby Crimes, Accepts Anonymous Tips

Can your smart phone make you safer in the City of Syracuse?  Mayor Ben Walsh joined members of the Syracuse Police Department to roll out new technology to help reduce crime and improve community relations. You might have a phone app to find your way around or get a ride, maybe check the weather or play a game. Deputy Chief Joe Cecile wants you to get another app for community benefit.

“Nothing makes it safer, nothing assists with quality of life (more) than collaboration and communication between the residents who live there and the police department.  And that’s what this TIP 411 is going to allow us to do.  We’re going to roll out an app that allows us to communicate and dialogue with the residents throughout the city with everything from crime down to public relations-type events.”

People can download the app on I-Phone or Android smart phones.  Mayor Walsh says it can add some eyes and ears to the police on patrol.

“You may notice a suspicious vehicle in your neighborhood; you may have a vacant house in your neighborhood and you notice some suspicious activity around there, and knowing that I can just pull out my phone.  I can submit a tip to the police department.  The functionality to include a photo is really useful.  So having the app on your phone makes it convenient.”

Tips sent through the app are anonymous.  Authorities say that makes it more useful than texting, where people fear consequences of giving police information.  Police can also use the app to send messages to people about crimes that are going on in their neighborhoods.

Read the full story at WAER.org

Anonymous tip texting app
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Rockland law enforcement unveils anonymous tip texting app

Anyone who witnesses a crime or can provide information on wrongdoing can use a free anonymous cell phone application to text police.

The county’s social media-based tip411 application was unveiled Tuesday by the Rockland District Attorney’s Office and local police. The system has been used in Westchester County, as well as across the state and nation.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSYSwYWPjB0&w=560&h=315]

While police still want emergency calls to go to 911, tip411 is geared toward texting tips and video and could overcome fears of witness intimidation, authorities said during a news conference at the District Attorney’s Office in the Rockland Courthouse.

The application also allows for receiving police alerts and social media channels.

“Giving the public the ability to anonymously communicate with police will allow people to provide key information without fear of reprisal,” District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said. “Tip411 will also help to alleviate a lack of witness cooperation, which has hampered the investigative process in many criminal cases.”

The targeted audience is especially young people, who are rarely without their cell phones.

“Tell a young person to make a phone call and they don’t want to,” Zugibe said. “Tell them to send a text message, no problem.”

The “RocklandCo DA app” can be downloaded free from Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, or by visiting the District Attorney’s Office website at www.rocklandgov.com.

Police said the system enables people to send anonymous tips about crime, drugs, bullying and suspicious activity to their local police department with officers able to respond, creating a two-way chat.

Three ways to send tips:

  • Send anonymous text tips to 847411 – tip411- then type keyword “rocklandcoda” add a space, type your tip info and hit send.
  • An anonymous tip can be sent through the free RocklandCo DA Smartphone app for iPhone and Android or tablet.
  • Use the anonymous web tip form at the District Attorney’s Office at www.rocklandgov.com.
“This does not replace 911 for crimes in progress,” Zugibe said, adding the tips are an investigative tool for police to solve crimes. “The tips are 100 percent anonymous.”

Police said the tip system has been used in Westchester County for nearly six years and has helped solve “cold cases.”

The system costs $17,000 for 24 months. The cost is paid through funds seized from criminal enterprises, District Attorney’s Office Capt. Brendan Donohue said.

All tips will be investigated just as if a person called in on the telephone or walked into a police station, authorities said, referring to people submitting false information.

Zugibe also said the information is not prosecution testimony.

“This is not a substitute to testimony,”  he said. “This will be a valuable investigative tool.”

Read the full story from Lohud.

Fort Myers Police
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tip411: You can send tips to Fort Myers Police via app or text

The Fort Myers Police Department launched a new way for people to report non-emergency crimes directly to officers anonymously.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG-Ka9_odSA&w=560&h=315]

The feature, called “Tip411” is part of the department’s revamped website, and comes in the form of an app.

The feature removes all identifying information from the tipster after a tip is submitted to ensure anonymity.

Police said that the feature is not meant to replace an emergency call to 911, but instead will guarantee 100 percent anonymity to anyone wishing to report a crime, danger, or suspicious activity.

Those without a smartphone can still access the feature by sending a tip via text. By texting the keyword, “FMPD” to 847411.

For smartphone users, the app is available for free in the Google Play Store, iTunes app store, or by visiting the Fort Myers Police Department’s website.

tip411 help fight crime
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FMPD launches new crime-fighting app

The Fort Myers Police Department launches “tip411,” a crime-fighting tool for Southwest Florida residents.

“Tip411” is a app that allows residents to submit tips with their smartphones or through the website FMPD’s website.

“The new tip411 is an anonymous tip line designed to allow the public to report non-emergency criminal activity directly to the Fort Myers Police Department,” said Lt. William Musante of FMPD Support Operations.

Residents who use the system will be issued a randomly generated access code called, Tipster ID. Deputies are able to correspond with residents without seeing their personal information.

According to FMPD the new app, the website and the system are not meant to take the place of an emergency call to 911.

“It’s our duty to work to reduce crime and contribute to the safety of all in our community,” said Chief Derrick Diggs of the Fort Myers Police Department. “We do this through collaboration with our residents, and believe tip411 will us better engage community members of all ages and backgrounds to make Fort Myers a safer and more welcoming place for all.”

Read the full story from Fox4