Framingham Police Launch Anonymous Tip Line Via Tip411 App
The Framingham Police Department is increasing its crime-fighting arsenal with a new app to help residents connect with the
department to find information, view alerts, and submit anonymous tips from their smartphone.
Developed by tip411, the Framingham PD app puts a powerful new crime-fighting tool into the hands of community members of all ages. The Framingham PD app is available for download for free via the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, or by visiting the Framingham Police Department website at www.framinghamma.gov/police.
“The Framingham Police Department is charged with protecting and serving those who live, work, and travel in Framingham.,” said Chief Steven Trask of the Framingham Police Department. “Working together with our residents can have the greatest impact on safety, and I believe the new Framingham PD app from tip411 will help make it easier for residents to share information to help protect their community.”
The new Framingham 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 Framingham Police and have built a more advanced and innovative product to help departments better engage their communities,” said tip411 President Terry Halsch. “The Framingham PD 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 Framingham 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 Framingham without a smartphone can share information with police by sending an anonymous text tip via their cell phone to police by texting keyword FPDTIPS and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the department’s website at www.framinghamma.gov/police.
Massena Police Department using new tool to allow anonymous reporting
A new way to anonymously report crime tips in Massena is up and running via an app called tip411.
The Massena Police Department app is available for free download via the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, or by visiting the Massena Police Department website at www.MassenaPD.com.
Chief Adam J. Love said one of the biggest benefits is the ability to report information anonymously. He said they realize people are sometimes afraid to call the police with information. But, by using tip411, the system removes all of the identifying information, and police receive no personal information such as name, phone number and address.
The individual app for iPhones or Android phones has a tab for alerts, where alerts will be sent by the police department. Another tab is for “My Tips,” where individuals would be able to anonymously send information to the department. There are also links to the department’s website and Facebook pages, as well as the ability to phone the department from the app.
Anyone who doesn’t have a smart phone can still send anonymous tips through a message. They would text keyword MPDTIP to 847411, add a space, type in their tip information and hit send.
In addition, they can use the Anonymous Web Tip Form from their computer by visiting www.MassenaPD.com.
“The biggest thing is they can send anonymous tips,” Chief Love said. “We want to be able to help connect our police department with the public. This is just one powerful tool that we can use to let people reach out to us. The public is our greatest crime-fighting resource.”
For instance, he said, someone may have a concern about possible drug activity in their neighborhood, bullying, suspicious activity or crime.
“Instead of them worrying about are they going to know who I am, they can send a tip anonymously,” he said.
Chief Love said tip411 is strictly to provide anonymous reports, and isn’t mean for emergencies or urgent need of police assistance. Residents should continue to call 9-1-1- for all emergency situations and, for non-emergency, the department at 3165-769-3577.
In addition to anonymous reporting, the app allows the department to get information out to subscribers instantaneously. He said they the police department can use it for instances such as when they’re looking for information on a person or incident. They can also use it in conjunction with the Massena Volunteer Fire Department to alert subscribers to stay away from an area where a fire is in progress, or the Department of Public Works to let individuals know about a road closure for repair work.
He said information can be disseminated in a short amount of time, even from his cell phone. Alerts can be sent via an email or a text message to the individual’s phone. Chief Love said they’ll also continue to use social media site such as Facebook to pass on information.
“We want to be able to help connect our police department with the public. This is just one powerful tool that we can use that people can reach out to us. With social media, they have the right to limit how far out we go and who receives messages. With tip 411, everybody will get a message,” he said.
“I think this is going to give us a nice connection with our community that supports us so well. I think this is one way to be able to keep that positive connection. We look forward to using it and the community using it,” he said.
New app helping Kentucky conservation officers fight crimes
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is using a new tool to fight crimes.
Nearly two weeks ago the department launched a new smartphone app where people can submit tips anonymously.
“Up to this point we’ve received about 100 tips and about 1,000 downloads of the app,” said Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Chief Communications Officer Kevin Kelly.
When you open the app and select the “new tip” option, you can then write in a subject line, description and fill in the location. You can even take a photo or video to send in showing conservation officers what you’re seeing.
“We’ve received complaints about trespassing, we’ve also received tips about hunters taking more than one buck, so we have a one buck rule here in Kentucky. And then also harvesting deer from roadways which is not allowed,” said Kelly.
Modern gun deer hunting season just began in Kentucky, and officials also want to remind people that it’s illegal to bring deer or elk carcasses across state lines. The reason behind that rule is to prevent the spread of disease.
If you see someone driving carcasses into Kentucky from out-of-state, you can report that through the app too.
LEX 18 talked with a local hunter who said it sometimes can be hard to get in touch with a conservation officer or game warden, and he thinks this is a big step in the right direction.
“Say if someone’s doing something wrong you could just be like ‘hey you might want to come check this out.’ I just think it’d be a great idea,” said Colby Brown from Rockcastle County.
The KFWLaw app is available for download in the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store.
The app is free, and once you have it open, select “new tip” on the app home screen to send in information.
Mobile app allows anonymous tips of illegal substance use
Police departments across the state are battling staffing shortages, which has led many departments to find new and creative ways of getting information about illegal activity.
In Hancock County, it’s becoming easier than ever to report crimes and now, you can report crimes without even dialing 911.
“Many people with their busy lives don’t want to take the time to provide information, or sometimes, they just don’t want to be known,” said Hancock County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Patrick Kane.
Now, residents of Hancock County have a new way of reporting crimes, particularly underage and illegal substance use, and they can all be made anonymously.
It’s part of the program TIP 411. Tips can be sent through a mobile app called HancockCO Sheriff that is available on the app store and google play. It can also be submitted online through the department’s Facebook page, or by sending a text to the number 847-411, with the keyword HCSO to start the message.
The main goal of this app is to prevent underage and illegal substance use. The program has been developed in partnership with Healthy Acadia, who shared a similar mission.
“Something in the community can do to reduce access to substance use,” said Healthy Acadia Community Health Director Maria Donahue.
The non-profit Healthy Acadia works to create healthier communities across Hancock and Washington Counties. The group received funding for tip 411 through Maine Prevention Services.
“The earlier that youth start using substances like alcohol and other drugs, the more likely they are to develop problems later in life,” said Donahue.
For Chief Deputy Kane, this new tool is the way of the future.
“I think that this is just the tip of the iceberg with technology such as it is,” said Kane. “This is going to work not only here, but I think you’ll see this grow in Maine and nationally,” he added.