Crime tip line
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New crime tip line launched in Bennington County

A new tool will help put the power to fight crime in the palm of Bennington County residents’ hands.

An anonymous tip reporting program, powered by a free smartphone app, has been launched through the Bennington County Sheriff Department and The Collaborative. The app will help residents submit anonymous tips to law enforcement agencies, as well as receive alerts with their smartphone, according to Detective Sgt. Lloyd Dean.

Details of the new initiative were discussed at a press conference at the sheriff’s headquarters Monday morning. The free smartphone app is available for Android and iPhone mobile devices.

Dean said among the crimes the department and Collaborative are encouraging people to send tips for include burglaries, illegal drug activity, a party where underage youth are consuming alcohol, and bullying.

The initiative is one piece of a grant-funded partnership program to combat substance abuse, said Victoria Silsby with The Collaborative’s substance prevention program. The Collaborative is the lead organization for the five-year federally funded partnership program; funding is funneled from the state Department of Health.

“We think this county-wide approach sends a clear message that Bennington County is committed to reducing substance use and engages in substance use prevention initiatives,” she said.

Minnesota-based CitizenObserver created the tip411 tool, according to the company’s website. Law enforcement, schools, call centers and emergency management in over 1,000 communities use the company’s tools.

The app users should download here is called “BenningtonCo Sheriff” in the Android and iPhone app stores; it comes up with a search of “tip411 Bennington.” Once downloaded, a user can send a completely anonymous tip to an account that’s monitored through the sheriff’s department.

Read the full story from the Bennington Banner

St. Petersburg Police Department
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Tips from the Public Help St. Pete Police Identify Suspect

Tips from the public have led police to identify the woman they say followed and beat up a 69-year-old woman at her home as 34-year-old Leslie Broadfoot.

Police say that surveillance video inside a Marathon gas station on 10th Avenue N shows Broadfoot shortly before the beat-down. It was Sept. 9 and people were rushing around Tampa Bay to get last-minute supplies and fill their tanks before Hurricane Irma.

Police said Broadfoot asked the 69-year-old to buy her fuel in exchange for helping unload her car with hurricane supplies from Lowes.

Broadfoot and another person followed the woman to her home.

Then instead of offering the promised help, police say Broadfoot hit the other woman repeatedly and stole her purse.

Surveillance video from the 69-year-old woman’s house shows a white Jeep or SUV leaving the property after the robbery.

Broadfoot has a lengthy criminal history including drug and theft convictions, court records show.

Police are asking for help finding Broadfoot. People with any information can call 727-893-7780 or text the keyword “SPPD” and an anonymous tip to 847-411 (Tip-411.)

See the full report & video from the Tampa Bay Times.

Atlantic city tip411 anonymous tip
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Anonymous tip leads to drugs, gun arrest in Atlantic City

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.

Read the full story from the Press of Atlantic City

tip411 phone app screen shot
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Police turning to technology to increase connection with people they serve

The Pelham Police Department is turning to an innovative new app to connect with people, and the department believes it’s the first in the area to use it.

“The app just takes our community policing to the next level,” said Sgt. Brian Barbato of the Pelham Police Department.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgVeBt9n7X0?ecver=2]

The Pelham PD app launched earlier this month. Designed by the Citizen Observer Program, it sends instant alerts to users on emergencies, road closures and press releases.

“People have loved it so far. We’ve got a lot of positive feedback from it. People love the interaction with the police department. They love to know what’s going on in their community,” said Barbato.

It also allows people to sends tips directly to the police dispatcher.

“And you can have a back and forth conversation with that dispatcher and then he or she can relay that information to the officers working the road,” said Barbato.

“These tips that can come in through the app are completely anonymous. We don’t have any IP addresses attached to it,” added Lt. Anne Perriello of Pelham police.

Watch or read the full report from WMUR9 TV