A new, more interactive way for folks in Tipton County to stay up-to-date on all safety issues occurring in the county is coming to town.
Drug Free Tipton is launching the tip411 alert system, which allows “the public to report crimes and other suspicious activities directly to law enforcement by sending anonymous text messages from their cell phone or via a free smartphone app,” a press release said.
Read the full story and watch the report at Fox13Memphis.com
A suburban drug task force is the latest Minnesota law enforcement agency to use texting and mobile apps to attract would-be tipsters.
Last week, the Southwest Metro Drug Task Force activated its “SWMTip” app, powered by St. Paul-based technology company tip411, for residents to submit anonymous tips and photos from their smartphones.
Phil Nawrocki, a Scott County Sheriff’s Office commander, said the first tip arrived within a day of launching the app. The task force joined more than 30 other Minnesota agencies using tip411 after noting how often it gathered information from mobile photos or text messages, Nawrocki said.
“Rather than have the individual go back home, sit down and try to find our e-mail address and contact info, they have a cellphone in their hand that can directly send confidential information to us,” Nawrocki said.
The Southwest Metro Drug Task Force covers Scott, Carver and McLeod counties as well as the cities of Excelsior, Greenwood, Shorewood and Tonka Bay.
Tip411’s apps keep tipsters anonymous by assigning them a six-character alias to be used when communicating with authorities, said tip411 President Terry Halsch. The company also has a “text-a-tip” system that is used by roughly 1,400 agencies around the country, he said.
The Southwest Metro Drug Task Force now allows the public to share important public safety information anonymously by sending a secure message and/or photos about narcotics activity within the communities of Carver, McLeod, and Scott counties, and South Lake Minnetonka via a free smartphone app.
Developed by tip411,the SWMTip App can be downloaded for free via the Google Play Store, and iTunes App Store.
“We believe the public is our greatest law enforcement resource,” said Commander Phil Nawrocki of Southwest Metro Drug Task Force. “Our new SWMTip App, along with our existing tip411 anonymous text a tip system, will help our residents play a more active role in keeping the communities within Carver, McLeod, and Scott counties, and South Lake Minnetonka safe.”
Like the department’s existing tip411 anonymous text a tip system, the new SWMTip App from tip411 enables the public to share an anonymous tip with the Southwest Metro Drug Task Force and lets the agents respond back, creating an anonymous two-way conversation.
Read the full story in the Chanhassen Villager.
Have you heard about TIP 411 available in Northfield and Rice County? The Rice County Sheriff’s Office, the Rice County Chemical Health Coalition, the Mayor’s Task Force on Youth Alcohol and Drug Use and the Northfield Police, are getting the word out about the TIP411 program through posters, flyers, postcards, and a public service announcement.
TIP 411 is a way for people to report concerning behavior or activities without having to provide any identifying information. Often community members don’t want to report illegal or risky activity for fear of getting involved. Through the TIP411 program, law enforcement agencies across Rice County can accept 100% anonymous crime tips via cell phone text messages. This resource allows community members to reach out for help when they feel that their safety is threatened, or when they are concerned for their family, friends and neighbors.
Community members can use TIP411 to report information related to crime, drugs, fights, underage drinking, threats, violence, vandalism, theft, drunk drivers, weapons, gangs and people in trouble. To text a tip, simply start a new text message. Type 847411 in the phone number spot. Type the keyword RICECO in the message portion of the text. Type the specific crime information after the keyword and hit send.
Messages are sent to Citizen Observer, Inc. and stripped of all identifying information. A local officer receives the message and determines whether Faribault Police, Northfield Police, or the Rice County Sheriff’s Office will follow up.
Read the full column from Northfield News and watch a public service announcement about Rice County’s tip411 system.
An anonymous tip prompted an undercover investigation on Poinciana Parkway in Cheektowaga and led to the arrests of three men and a woman on marijuana charges last week, Assistant Police Chief Jim Speyer said Friday.
Speyer credited a “concerned neighbor”who used the town’s TIP411 text system with alerting the department to the drug activity. Detectives then began monitoring a home on the street.
On Sept. 24, detectives stopped a car as it backed out of the driveway. They noticed a smell of burning marijuana and arrested three men and a woman, ages 17 to 20. Speyer did not identify the four suspects but said all were charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.
“The neighbors on that street had become concerned about a group of youths hanging around that house yelling, screaming, using drugs and causing a nuisance and disrupting the quality of life in the neighborhood,” Speyer said.
He said tips, which are completely anonymous, can be made to the Cheektowaga Police Department by using TIP411 (847411) and typing CPDNY and texting the information.
Read the story from The Buffalo News and visit Cheektowaga PD’s Facebok page.
