Cambridge Alert Network

Police Use tip411 to Send Alerts to 22,000 Residents in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Despite serving as an important line of communication during violent incidents or big snow events, like last week’s “bomb cyclone,” most of the city’s households are not signed up for the Cambridge Alert Network.

The Cambridge Alert Network is a system of various services including Citizen Observer (tip411), NextDoor and CodeRED. The network sends residents — through text, email or phone — crucial notifications relating to weather, crime, safety, and any other emergency situations.

Citizen Observer (tip411)

As a subscription-based service, Citizen Observer (tip411), a branch of the Alert Network, allows residents to sign up for citywide information on crime for each of the 13 neighborhoods in Cambridge. According to Jeremy Warnick, Cambridge Police Department’s director of communications and media relations, these notifications reach approximately 22,000 subscribers citywide: less than 20 percent of the city’s population.

″[Citizen Observer] is really helpful, particularly with an ongoing criminal manner in which we will provide updates,” Warnick said. “The other component of it is that it also allows us to receive anonymous tips. [The tips] are encrypted so we have no idea who’s on the other side sending those in. It’s a trustworthy way of people submitting information that may help us with an investigation.”

Warnick said the department usually receives multiple crime tips a week through Citizen Observer, and that they often “come in waves.”

Read the full story from the Cambridge Chronicle

Allentown interview

Allentown police hope new app will help cut down on crime

The Allentown Police Department is leaning on technology to help them catch criminals.

On Wednesday, city leaders unveiled a new app that’s a first in our area.

The Allentown Police Department hopes the new app will help cut down on crime and keep people safe. The app pushes out alerts about what’s happening and even lets you send anonymous tips right on your phone.

“We can send alerts to the entire city. Our captains can send out alerts to their areas,” said Allentown Police Department’s Assistant Chief Gail Struss.

Here’s how it works:

Just download the app, called “Allentown PD,” for free from the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store or the Allentown Police Department website.

Then look for crime alerts, or click tip and send information about cold cases or missing people. You can add pictures and videos too.

All tips are anonymous.

“I can respond to you but I have no idea who you are nor can I ever find out who you are because that information gets scrubbed before it ever gets to us,” Struss said.

Read the full story from WFMZ-TV and watch the report below:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G62CejYWYKo?ecver=2]
Jamestown police badge

Jamestown Police Department tip411 App and Program

The Jamestown 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.

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Developed by tip411, the Jamestown PD app puts an additional tool into the hands of community members. The Jamestown PD app is available for free via the Google Play Store, iTunes, or by visiting the Jamestown Police Department Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jamestownpolicedepartment/.

Jamestown residents without a smartphone will still be able to send an anonymous text tip via their cell phone to police by texting keyword JPDTIP and their message to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the department’s Facebook page by clicking on the Report a Tip link. Links for the app are also located on the page.

The Jamestown PD app and tip411 text a tip system are 100% anonymous, as the technology removes all identifying information before police see the tips. Community members may also sign up for alerts by visiting the tip411 website at https://tip411site.wordpress.com/sign-up-for-alerts/ .

The Victoria Police Department Launches tip411 Alerts

The Victoria Police Department is launching tip411 public safety alerts from Citizen Observer which is a new way to keep the community connected and informed through email, text message, and online public safety alerts.

“We believe an informed community is a safer community,” said Chief Jeff Craig.  The new tip411 system will allow our department to communicate directly with members of the public who are interested in receiving information about crime and public safety issues in the City of Victoria.

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