CHELMSFORD — Police Chief James M. Spinney announces the launch of a new free app to help residents connect with the department, find information, view alerts, and submit anonymous tips from their smartphone and smart devices.
Beginning Thursday, Aug. 20, residents can download and use the Tip411 app to submit tips and information to the Chelmsford Police Department via the app, text, a link on the town website, and a link embedded on the police department’s Facebook page. Sign up is available either online or on a mobile device. Residents can download the app through a link on the town website, and an informational video can be viewed here.
“We strongly encourage residents to download the app to stay informed and access information at their convenience,” said Chief Spinney. “This easy-to-use app allows residents to send and receive important alerts directly on their mobile devices and lets us reach a significant percentage of the community in an instant during an emergency.”
Any tips sent through the Tip411 app will be completely anonymous, and all identifying information is removed before police receive a tip. The public may share an anonymous tip with police, and officers can respond back to create an anonymous two-way conversation. Tips received can be managed and sorted by police.
The Chelmsford Police Department can also send out messages through the app dashboard for residents to receive by text, Twitter, Facebook, and app notification. With the app, the police department can now send out and receive information all on one platform.
Police may broadcast emergency messages statewide to any person who has the Tip411 app, and approximately 30 police departments use the app in Massachusetts.
Residents in Chelmsford without a smartphone may still send an anonymous text tip via their cell phone to police by texting CHELMSFORDPD and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the department’s website.
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