It started with Scotland Yard and was promoted by the FBI.
Police have a long tradition of using the latest technology to solve crimes and arrest the perpetrators.
But despite this ever-increasing use of technology, police are also mindful that one of their most effective tools is something as old-fashioned as an anonymous tip.
The Elizabethton Police Department announced this week that it 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.
Developed by tip411, the Elizabethton PD app provides citizens of all ages and abilities with a new tool to work with the police. The Elizabethton PD app is available for download tor free via the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store or by visiting the Elizabethton Police Department website at www.elizabethton.org/departments/police.php.
“Preventing crime is our first operational priority as we work from a community-based philosophy of policing,” Elizabethton Police Chief Jason Shaw said. “Working together, we are more likely to make lasting improvements in our quality of life, and I believe the new Elizabethton PD app from tip411 will help make it safer and easier for residents to share information with us to increase safety in our community.”
The new Elizabethton PD app enables the public to share an anonymous tip with police and lets officers respond back to create an anonymous two-way conversation.
“We’ve listened to feedback from partners like Elizabethton Police and have built a more advanced and innovative product to help departments better engage their communities,” said tip411 President Terry Halsch.
“The Elizabethton PD app powered by tip411 will greatly improve the public’s access to agency alerts, social media channels, important information, and more to help fight crime.”
The system is 100 percent anonymous, as the technology removes all identifying information before police see the tips and there is no way to identify the sender.
Residents in Elizabethton without a smartphone will still be able to share information with police by sending an anonymous text tip via their cellphone to police by texting keyword TIPEPD and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the department’s website at elizabethton.org/departments/police.php.