Ashland City Police new logo
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New Ashland City Police Department app allows communication, anonymous tips

Ashland City residents can download an app to better communicate — even anonymously — with their local police department.

The Ashland City Council approved a contract with tip411 in September, a three-year contract covered by the police department’s budget, Chief Marc Coulon explained at the meeting.

Tip411 is a web-based tool used in law enforcement agencies, schools and coalitions, according to its website.

Ashland City’s police department “is increasing its crime-fighting arsenal” by launching the avenue for the public to find information, receive alerts from the department and submit anonymous tips. Officers can respond back and engage in conversation with the anonymous tipsters.

The free app is available to Apple and Android users, and residents can also sign up using the Town of Ashland City’s website. Those without a smartphone can also send anonymous tips by texting ACPDTIP and their message to the department to 847411 (tip411), according to a tip411 release sent by the Ashland City Police Department.

“Our mission is to reduce crime and the fear of crime through outstanding police services in partnership with the community,” Coulon said in the release. “We believe the addition of this new app will allow us to have an even deeper crime-fighting partnership with our residents.”

Coulon previously told the Times that even Cheatham County residents outside of Ashland City can use the app to send anonymous tips to the Ashland City Police Department, which can relay the tip to the correct jurisdiction.

“The Ashland City Police tip411 Mobile app will greatly improve the public’s access to agency alerts, social media channels, important information, and more to help fight crime,” tip411 President Terry Halsch said in the release. “We’ve listened to feedback from partners like (the) Ashland City Police Department and have built more advanced and innovative products to help departments better engage their communities.”

Ashland City police can also send notifications — including maps, images, links, case information, suspect or missing person information and more — to users. Those alerts can also be posted to the department’s social media accounts. Deputies will be able to log into tip411 from anywhere with internet access on any device.

Read the story from the Nashville Tennessean

Tye PD launch new anonymous tip app
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Tye and Tye PD launch tip411 app for residents

The City of Tye and the Tye Police Department have announced the launch of a new app to help residents connect with the City and the police department.

Citizens will be able to find information, receive important alerts from the City and submit anonymous tips from their smartphones.

The Tye PD app is available for download for free via Google Play Store, the iTunes App Store or by visiting the Tye Police Department website at CityofTye.org/PoliceDept .

“Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Tye by working in partnership with the community.” Chief Jay Strong of the Tye Police Department said. “We believe our new Tye PD app from tip411 will help make it safer and easier for residents to share information with us to increase safety in our community and receive important information from the city.”

The new app allows the public to share anonymous tips with police and lets officers respond back to create an anonymous two-way conversation. Residents can also register to receive important public safety alerts, information about road closures, water leaks, weather and more, via email or text message.

The app and tip411 anonymous text-a-tip system are 100 percent anonymous with technology removing all identifying information before police see the tips, leaving no way to identify the sender.

Residents in Tye without a smartphone can share information with police by sending an anonymous text tip via their cellphone to police by texting keyword TYEPD and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411).

Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the department’s website at CityofTye.org/PoliceDept

Anonymous tip texting app
admin In The News

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.

Text your tip Mario County
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Marion County Sheriff’s kick off text to tip app

Marion County residents can now report crime tips via text message.

The new text-to-tip program, tip411, allows Marion County Sheriff’s Office to help connect with the community.

The program lets users report crime tips and suspicious activities by sending an anonymous text message from their cellphone or through a free app called MCSO In The Know.

“We believe an informed community is a safer community,” said Lt. Chris Baldridge,  Marion County Sheriff’s public information officer.

MCSO In The Know gives officers the ability respond back by creating an anonymous two-way conversation.

The technology utilized in the app removes identifying information from users before messages reach police.

In addition to the two-way text conversations, the sheriff’s office will inform registered app users of public safety alerts by sending emails, text messages and app alerts.

Anonymous crime tips can also be shared by sending by texting “TipMCSO” and their message to 847411, or tip411.

Read the full story from the Statesman Journal.

Hit and run
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Lewisville Police Use tip411 to Identify Driver in Fatal Hit and Run

From Lewisville Police:

Tips from citizens helped in identifying the driver in this incident.  The Lewisville Police Departments thanks the public for their assistance.

On Sunday, October 02, 2016, at approximately 8:40 pm, a 45-year-old male pedestrian was struck in the right southbound lane of 1600 S SH121 Business in Lewisville.  Witness statements and video surveillance from surrounding businesses confirms the suspect vehicle as a two tone, red over tan or gray, 2004 – 2008 Ford F-150 crew cab pickup truck with tinted windows.  The truck stopped for about 10 seconds, then fled the scene turning right onto westbound E Southwest Parkway.

Read the full original alert and update from Lewisville Police here.