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Smartphone app helps fight crime in Crow Wing County

Smartphone apps have uses ranging from checking the weather to watching movies to reading about the latest breaking news, and everything in between. Now Crow Wing County residents can download an app that lets them send crime tips to the sheriff’s department and communicate with local law enforcement from anywhere while remaining anonymous.

Tip411 is a program that has been gaining popularity in the lakes area over the last eight months. After downloading the CWCS Mobile app on an iPhone or Android device, users can simply submit anonymous tips relating to any criminal or suspicious activity directly to the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.

And that’s not all.

“The cool thing with this feature is people can still remain anonymous if they wish, but we’re allowed to communicate back with them. So that’s where we can add the additional questions,” said Capt. Scott Goddard, of the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.

The app allows the investigator receiving the tips to respond to the tipster and ask follow-up questions.

“They’ll text us in something very vague, like, ‘Vehicles coming or going late at night from a residence,'” Goddard said. “And then our follow-up questions might be, ‘Well, can you give us descriptions of the vehicle?’ or ‘What times are the vehicles coming and going?'”

Read the full story from the Pineandlakes Echo Journal

Cheektowaga Police Department
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Text through Cheektowaga’s tip411 results in two drug arrests

Two people were arrested on multiple drug charges Wednesday night after police received an anonymous tip through the department’s tip411 texting service.

The anonymous text was sent to the department around 7 p.m. saying that a car was parked on Oakwood Drive in the town’s South Line district and several people were smoking drugs.

“Officers Chris Wierzbowski and Mike Menth responded and found two people in the car and then discovered a baggie with crack cocaine at the feet of the occupants.  Further investigation led to the discovery of multiple envelopes of heroin, a crack pipe, and several hypodermic needles,” said James Speyer, Assistant Chief of Police.

Police arrested and charged Jessica Seiler, 22 of Tristan Lane, Williamsville and Dillon Butchart, 25 of Pleasant Ave, Depew with three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument.

Read the full story in the Cheektowaga Chronicle.

Ramsey anonymous texting tip service
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Ramsey police introduce anonymous texting tip service

The borough police department has launched an anonymous texting line for people to report crimes, authorities announced Wednesday.

People will now be able to text 847411 (tip411) and send anonymous tips about crime or suspicious activity, authorities said.

More than 1,200 communities in the United States use tip411, which allows police officers to receive real-time information, Ramsey police said.

“We believe the public is our greatest law enforcement resource,” Chief Brian Gurney said. “Tip411 allows a safe and secure way for community members to share important information with police without the fear of retribution.”

The service also “removes all identifying information before police see it and there is no way to identify the sender,” authorities said.

Gurney said that the service could also be used for people to report possible overdoses.

“Due to the opiate overdose epidemic, we are hoping that the Tip411 system will offer an alternative for people who may know of others that may need help with their opioid addiction,” he said. “We are also offering an alternative for young people, who do not want to formally contact police with regard to their friends that may be experiencing drug addiction and other issues.”

Gurney said anyone with questions can get more information by calling 201-327-2400.

Read the full story from NorthJersey.com

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Jamestown Police Department tip411 App and Program

The Jamestown Police Department is increasing its crime-fighting arsenal with a new app to help residents connect with the department to find information, view alerts, and submit anonymous tips from their smartphone.

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Developed by tip411, the Jamestown PD app puts an additional tool into the hands of community members. The Jamestown PD app is available for free via the Google Play Store, iTunes, or by visiting the Jamestown Police Department Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jamestownpolicedepartment/.

Jamestown residents without a smartphone will still be able to send an anonymous text tip via their cell phone to police by texting keyword JPDTIP and their message to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the department’s Facebook page by clicking on the Report a Tip link. Links for the app are also located on the page.

The Jamestown PD app and tip411 text a tip system are 100% anonymous, as the technology removes all identifying information before police see the tips. Community members may also sign up for alerts by visiting the tip411 website at https://tip411site.wordpress.com/sign-up-for-alerts/ .

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tip411 Program Assists in Theft Arrest

A 36-year-old Deerwood man was arrested Saturday for receiving stolen property following the recovery of a stolen all-terrain vehicle on the 22000 block of Cottontail Drive in Cuyuna.

Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office was called at 12:39 p.m. about a recovery of a stolen 2013 Polaris Razor ATV from the Cottontail Drive residence, which was originally stolen a few days prior at a residence on Placid Lake Drive in rural Deerwood. While deputies were at the residence, they also located additional stolen property from other residences including four-wheeler, and a boat and trailer that had not been reported stolen yet as the owner didn’t know it was missing until deputies contacted them.

The 36-year-old Deerwood man, who was arrested for having the stolen property and is in jail awaiting formal charges, also is on probation for third-degree sale of a controlled substance and has a lengthy criminal history, the sheriff’s office reported.

Sheriff Todd Dahl reports the recovery was the direct result of the TIP411 program which was implemented about four months ago.

“The program works exactly as it was designed to do,” Dahl stated in a news release. “It allows people to submit anonymous tips through their phones or computers directly to our investigators. It’s a great tool.”

Read the full story from the Brainerd Dispatch