Blaine, Minnesota Police sent an alert out via their tip411 system to residents asking for help identifying a person of interest in a prescription medication forgery case.
After receiving multiple tips, Blaine Police were able to identify the person of interest with the help of residents who submitted information anonymously to the department.
Police sent a follow up alert to residents thanking them for tips and letting them know they helped in the identification.
With the start of the 2017 school year, the Point Park Police Department in Pennsylvania is implementing an anonymous tip app to create a safer campus environment.
“I wanted to add another feature for faculty, staff and especially students,” Chief of Police Jeffrey Besong said. “I think it helps the students who don’t feel comfortable calling the police or getting involved.”
The “Point Park PD” app is designed to involve community in the crime solving process of the campus department. The app gives students the option to remain completely anonymous while filling out a tip. Students are given the option to include their name with the submitted tip.
“We are using the app in real time with our 24-hour dispatch, Besong said. Anytime a student submits a tip it goes to our dispatch, my cell phone, email and to other department supervisors.”
The app is developed by tip411, a system used across the country to include citizens in the law enforcement process. Point Park is the first Pittsburgh school to use the system as well as to launch a tip based security app.
“The tip411 system has been successful in communities across the U.S.,” Terry Halsch, president of tip411 in a press release from the department, said. “We are excited to partner with Point Park as one of the first universities to use the new school edition of our innovative tip411 app to directly connect and engage students, faculty and staff.”
See the full story in the Point Park Globe
Read more about the app on the Point Park University website
City police say they’ve arrested a city man in connection with a series of Neo-Nazi inspired hate graffiti incidents in the city and in neighboring Valley.
George F. Rissell, 24, was taken into custody after police received an anonymous tip via a smart phone app, combined with images from various surveillance cameras near where the incidents took place. With that information, police were able to zero in on the suspect’s vehicle and his identity.
The accused was arrested and charged with multiple counts of ethnic intimidation and criminal mischief, and arraigned before Magistrate Gill at 2140 hours. The accused was remanded to Chester County Prison in lieu of $150,000.00 cash bail.
Police said that Rissell has claimed past association with with supremacy and hate groups.
Various locations — including a car — were vandalized with hate messages and various White Supremacist/Neo-Nazi codes late Tuesday night, bringing widespread condemnation.
For Hamden Police, it is another step in helping to bridge the gap between police officers and the communities they protect. A new smartphone app called tip411 lets smartphone users submit crime tips anonymously.
“Often I’ll be in meetings and hear people say like I did yesterday, well, I didn’t want to bother the police. I heard from somebody else well, I want to be anonymous and I didn’t want to get involved so to speak,” said Hamden Chief of Police Thomas Wydra.
Wydra said the goal of the department is to connect with everyone in the town but realizes certain groups of people are hesitant to engage. Officers believe the app will encourage people to alert them of suspicious activity.
“We wanna reach people who ordinarily might not be willing to engage with us for a variety of reasons. That includes kids, people whose immigration status may be in jeopardy or some other process they don’t want to engage the local police. This is another way for them to reach us,” said Wydra.
An anonymous tip to Atlantic City Police on Friday resulted in a drug investigation and the arrest of a 62-year-old man.
The anonymous tipster alerted police earlier in the day about narcotic activity near the 900 block of North Carolina Avenue. Police executed a search warrant there and found 468 bags of heroin, a handgun, a ballistic vest and $58,000 believed to be proceeds from narcotics trafficking.
Terrence Collier, 62, of Atlantic City, was charged with drug possession, possession with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon during a drug offense, certain persons not to possess a weapon, obstruction of justice and resisting arrest.
Collier was taken to the Atlantic County jail.
Atlantic City Police urge the community and visitors to submit information using tip411 (847411). Begin the text with ACPD. Information can also be submitted by calling 609-347-5858.
