tip411 In The News

Public can send info anonymously to Sheriff’s Office using phone app

Members of the public can now send important public safety information anonymously on crimes or suspicious activity to the Scott County Sheriff’s Office with a secure message by using a free smartphone app.

Developed by tip411, the SCSOTips app can be downloaded free via the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, or by visiting the Scott County Sheriff’s Office website at www.scottcountymn.gov.

“We believe the public is our greatest law enforcement resource,” said Chief Deputy Luke Hennen of Scott County Sheriff’s Office. “Our new SCSOTips app, along with our existing tip411 anonymous text a tip system, will help our residents play a more active role in keeping the citizens of Scott County safe.”

Read the full story from Shakopee Valley News

tip411 Agency Spotlight, In The News

El Paso Creates Special Tip Keyword During Pope’s Visit to Promote tip411

The Vatican and the Catholic Diocese of El Paso announced that Pope Francis would be visiting Juárez on February 17, 2016.

During the visit, he traveled a route adjacent to the El Paso-Juárez border for a Mass scheduled at the former Juárez fairgrounds.

Due to the proximity of the motorcade route and the Mass to the U.S.-Mexico border, the City of El Paso created a special keyword to request the public’s help sharing tips related to the Pope’s visit.See the following press release from the El Paso Police Department:

Report Suspicious Activity to El Paso Police Department by Texting Keyword “POPE”

Date:  2/8/2016

EL PASO, The El Paso Police Department is seeking the public’s help by reporting suspicious activity to the Department’s Tip411 line. Tip411 allows the public to share important public safety information anonymously with the police department by sending a secure text message about crimes or suspicious activity. The Department is launching a special, keyword dedicated to the upcoming Papal visit.

If you have information of suspicious activity or a crime relating to the Pope’s upcoming visit and have a cell phone may send an anonymous tip to El Paso PD by Texting POPE and their message/tip to 847411(tip411).  Anonymous web tips can also be submitted right on the Police Department’s Facebook page or https://www.elpasotexas.gov/pope915/tip411

tip411 In The News

Walker County, AL launches tip411 crime reporting app

The Walker County Sheriff’s Office now has an app called Walker Tips that lets residents report crime and remain anonymous. Citizens can send a text tip by texting WALKER plus the tip to 847411.

The project came together with help from the Walker County Chamber of Commerce, Community in Action Coalition and District Attorney Bill Adair.

The push in Walker County is to encourage people to download the free app and use it when they see a problem, from a possible drunk driver to suspicious activity.

Authorities hope this gets teens and young adults more active and reporting crime.

“It’s an easy way for them to communicate their concerns without exposing them to ridicule or peer pressure,” Judge Henry Allred said.

“This is a chance for each of us to be anonymous, completely anonymous, and still fight crime,” Tina Aaron with Community in Action Coalition said.

See Full Story

tip411 In The News

Southwest Metro Drug Task Force seeks tips by app and text

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.

Read the full story from the Star Tribune…

tip411 In The News

“The criminal element has no greater enemy than the police and citizens working together.”

Sheriff Gary Schaffer reports the arrest of John Joseph McCall, 39, of West Wildwood, on Sept. 8, and the seizure of 422 bags of heroin, as well as suspected suboxone.

The Sheriff’s Office specialized ID & Warrants Unit arrested McCall at 3:18 p.m. Sept. 8. The Warrants Team was attempting to arrest McCall on a failure to appear warrant from Cape May County Superior Court. McCall was additionally arrested on a violation of probation warrant and a non-support warrant $97,513.17 from Gloucester County.

As a result of the arrest and subsequent investigation, McCall was charged with possession of controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute heroin less than .5 ounces and possession of prescription legend drugs. Bail was set at $60,000 full cash by Judge Garrabrant, J.M.C.

“I want to commend these officers for a job well done as well as the entire I.D. and Warrants Unit that constantly perform their work in an exceptional manner,” stated Sheriff Schaffer in a release. “They do the job of developing leads to locate suspects and serving warrants that are considered high risk in a commendable and professional manner.”

Sheriff Schaffer continued by stating, “I want to continue to ask our citizens for their continued cooperation and use our anonymous two-way texting of tips to assist us in locating these wanted persons as well as helping us develop leads to seize these dangerous drugs. The criminal element has no greater enemy than the police and citizens working together.”

Read the full story from the Cape May County Herald.