Chief Jared Mills of the Augusta, Maine Police Department speaks about the department’s new tip411 program and explains how, and why, residents should use it.
Augusta police say there is no ‘direct threat’ after anonymous Cony High School tip
City police said school operations will carry on as usual on Thursday after an anonymous tip alluding to “a possible threat of violence involving a firearm and Cony High School” late Wednesday night.
“There did not appear to be any direct threats, however due to the nature of this incident, (police) immediately identified the Augusta juvenile, and embarked in an extensive investigation into the alleged threats,” Deputy Chief Kevin Lully wrote in a Thursday morning press release. “(Police) are working in conjunction with the school, parent and the student involved, all of whom are working very cooperatively with Police.”
Lully said police were in contact with the juvenile “within an hour” after the tip was received at about 10 p.m. He said there were no charges being considered “at this time” against the juvenile.
Lully told the Kennebec Journal that the threat was not leveled against a specific student, but the school in general. Despite the reported threat, he wrote in the release that “Augusta Schools continue to be safe for all users at this time.”
No additional police presence is expected at the school on Thursday, Lully said, but officers will be “highly visible” if students, staff, visitors or parents have questions about the incident.
According to police reports, a report of terrorizing was investigated on Tracy Street at 10:32 p.m.
The Augusta Police Department would like to thank the administration at Cony High and all our community partners for assisting us so we could bring this incident to closure as soon as possible.
The anonymous tip was communicated through the new mobile application, “Tip411,” that was launched earlier this month.
Crime reporting app Tip411 coming soon to Ashland City
Ashland City residents will soon be able to submit anonymous tips and receive communications from the local police department using an app.
The Ashland City Council approved the Tip411 contract at its meeting Tuesday, locking in a three-year contract at $4,800, covered in the police department’s budget, Chief Marc Coulon said at the meeting.
Tip411 is used in more than 1,400 communities nationwide, according to the web-based tool’s website. That includes local, county, state and federal agencies, and even schools.
Tip411 “helps agencies engage community members of all ages by enabling anyone with a cell phone to submit tips via a smartphone app or text anonymous tips that can be responded to in real time by authorized personnel in the agency or organization,” it states.
Coulon said even Cheatham County residents outside of Ashland City can use the app to send tips to the Ashland City Police Department anonymously, and the department can relay those tips to the appropriate jurisdiction.
Citizens can also include image and video files to their web, text message or app tips to provide more specific information to Ashland City police, according to Tip411’s scope of services. The department will follow up on tips and will be able to respond to the anonymous tipster, archiving conversations.
Tip411 will assist the department in adding “submit a tip” and “sign up for alerts” buttons on the department’s website and social media pages, among other things.
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.
Coulon guessed that the service would be available to the public in about three weeks to a month.
Read the story from the Tennessean.
*This story incorrectly states the contract is for $3,600.
New app ‘tip411’ keeps Ansonia police, community connected
The Ansonia Police Department is using today’s technology as a tool to help fight crime.
The department is launching a phone app called the tip411 alert system, as a new and interactive way to keep the community connected and informed through emails, text messages and online public safety alerts, according to Police Chief Kevin Hale.
The app allows users to report crimes and other suspicious activities directly to police by sending anonymous text messages from their cell phone or via a free smartphone app.
“We believe an informed community is a safer community,” Hale said. “The new tip411 system allows our department to engage with the public and share information that will help make Ansonia a safer place.”
Residents can register to receive alerts from Ansonia Police via email and/or text message to their cell phone by opting to receive neighborhood-specific or citywide alerts about public safety issues in their area. Community members are encouraged to sign up online by visiting the city’s a website.
The public can also share information on crimes and other suspicious activity by sending an anonymous web or text tip to police. While the new app is not a replacement for dialing 911 in an emergency, those wishing to share information anonymously with police can simply text AnsoniaPD and their message to 847411 (tip411), according to Hale.
The new AnsoniaPD App for iPhone and Android from tip411 enables the public to share an anonymous tip with police and lets the officers respond back creating an anonymous two-way conversation.
The AnsoniaPD App and tip411 anonymous text a tip system are 100 percent anonymous, as the technology removes all identifying information before police see the tips and there is no way to identify the sender.
West Kentucky Crime Stoppers launches new mobile app
A new West Kentucky Crime Stoppers app will help residents connect with local law enforcement agencies from their cellphones.
Residents will be able to find information, view alerts and submit secure anonymous tips about crimes or suspicious activity.
The WKY Crime Stoppers app was developed by tip411 and is a power crime-fighting tools in the hands of community members of all ages. The app is available for download “free” from the Google Play Store or iTunes App Store.
The public can also text tips to police, allowing officers to respond with an anonymous two-way conversation. To send an anonymous text tip to police using a cell phone, text the keyword WKY and the message/tip to 847411 (tip411).
“Our mission is to reduce crime and the fear of crime through outstanding police services in partnership with the community,” said Paducah Police Chief Brandon Barnhill. “The addition of this new app and texting service will allow us to have an even deeper partnership with our residents.”