SafeTampa anonymous tip public safety

City of Tampa Encouraging Residents & Visitors to use “SafeTampa” App for Super Bowl LV

The City of Tampa, Tampa Police, and the Tampa Bay Public Safety Joint Information Center launched a new app and anonymous tip system to help residents and visitors to the bay area report suspicious activity and more during Super Bowl LV.

Developed by tip411, the SafeTampa app puts a powerful new tool into the hands of community members of all ages and is available for download for free via the Google Play Store or iTunes App Store.

“Working together, we can make the bay area safe for everyone,” said Chief Brian Dugan of the Tampa Bay Police Department. “If you see something, say something.”

The new SafeTampa app enables the public to share anonymous tips about suspicious activity, human trafficking, drug use/abuse, domestic violence, and more while allowing law enforcement to receive the information and respond back in real-time to create an anonymous two-way conversation.

“Our system has been used successfully by many agencies to combat crime, illegal drug use, human trafficking, and more,” said Terry Halsch, President of tip411.  “The City of Tampa is on the cutting edge of how technology can be used in high profile events like the Super Bowl to help gather important information and enhance public safety.”

The SafeTampa app and tip411 anonymous text a tip system are 100% anonymous, as the technology removes all identifying information before officers see the tips and there is no way to identify the sender.

Those without a smartphone can share information with police by sending an anonymous text tip via their cell phone to police by texting keyword SAFETAMPA and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted online at www.tampa.gov/police.

City of Johnstown, Pennsylvania City Picture

Johnstown police locate wanted man through tip411 smartphone application

Tips received through the Johnstown Police Department’s new tip411 smartphone application helped lead to the apprehension of a city man who was wanted on several outstanding warrants, police Capt. Chad Miller wrote in an email Friday.

“This is just one example of how tip411 is helping us locate wanted individuals and get them off the streets,” Miller wrote. “Tip411 is also helping us locate drug trafficking areas in and out of the city that we were previously unaware of.”

Miller wrote that the police department received several tips about Jamie Blough, 47, of the Woodvale section of Johnstown, who was arrested Friday.

Read the full story from the Tribune-Democrat

Help Fight Crime

LISTEN: Johnstown Police Chief Talks New Tip Line – tip411

Johnstown Police Chief Robert Johnson talks to his local radio station about tip411.

tip411 is a new program, a text system to report drug and suspicious activity in your area.

Chief Johnson talks how to get the app and how to text a tip.

The program has already been a success; people are already using it to help their community.

Check out their interview with Johnstown Police Chief Robert Johnson at ForeverJohnstown.com

Waxahachie ISD

Waxahachie ISD launches anonymous crime reporting app

Students of the Waxahachie Independent School District can now anonymously report suspicious activities using their cellphones.

tip411 allows students, staff, parents and the wider community to ” to share important safety information anonymously with district and campus administrators by sending them secure messages with information about bullying, drug use, and suspicious or potentially criminal activity via a free smartphone app,” according to a Friday press release.

“When a tip comes in, it will go to the campus administrator, our district head of security, our superintendent and the executive director of secondary or elementary learning, depending on if the tip is for an elementary or secondary campus,” District Spokesperson Jenny Bridges said.

The Waxahachie ISD says the free mobile app allows students and staff to play a role in keeping their schools safe without fear of retribution.

“Waxahachie ISD students excel in every area, from academics to fine arts to athletics and more,” said Dr. Bonny Cain, Waxahachie ISD Superintendent. “But our students can’t achieve if they don’t feel safe, and we believe the tip411 anonymous reporting system will add another level of safety and security to our campuses.”

The launch comes on the heels of an incident at Midlothian High School on Sept. 6 where the school went into lockdown after two students reported to staff what the District called “a possible threat.” The lockdown lasted several hours while police, dressed in combat gear and carrying heavy machinery, combed the building.

“We always encourage our students if they see or hear something to say something,” said Midlothian Independent School District Superintendent Lane Ledbetter in a statement posted on Facebook hours after the lockdown was lifted. “These two students did just that – reported what they thought they saw and heard.”

“After a long and thorough investigation, the Midlothian Police Department deemed the threat was unsubstantiated,” Ledbetter added.

tip411 is already being used by schools, police departments and community groups across the country. Critics of the app, however, say the system might become overwhelmed with frivolous tips that will take away the attention of investigators from serious incidents.

“The tip411 system has been successful in communities across the U.S.,” said Terry Halsch, president of tip411, in the release. “We are excited to work with Waxahachie ISD to bring our innovative app and text a tip system to connect and engage students directly to participate in promoting safety in their halls.”

Those without the app can still text anonymously by sending a message to 847411, beginning with a keyword linked to the school they are reporting about.

Read the full story from WaxahachieTX.com