Norwalk Police Department Launches Anonymous Tip App

NORWALK, CT — To provide the public with another convenient way to contact the department anonymously, Norwalk police have launched a smartphone app through a partnership with TIP411.

The new NorwalkPD app is available for free for iPhone and Android cell phones through the Apple App Store or Google Play. The app not only allows citizens to pass anonymous tips to Norwalk police, but also allows officers to respond back in real-time to create an anonymous two-way conversation.

"This is the first time we are offering a specific app which we are excited about," Norwalk Police Sgt. Sofia Gulino told Patch about the internet-based app. "It makes it super convenient for those with smartphones, but it's easily accessible without."

The department already had a few ways for people to leave anonymous tips, through a dedicated phone line, the internet, and texting. Those mechanisms remain in effect, and the new app is an additional way to leave tips.

"Additionally, it will allow us to push out information to everybody with the app," Gulino said, adding that a notice she put out Tuesday concerning a cold case murder investigation also was pushed out through the new app.

"The most important thing everyone needs to keep in mind is that this new application is meant for tips and not for crimes that are occurring or emergency situations," Gulino told Patch. "Those people should still call 911 or text to 911."

Here are three ways to send a tip:

• Download the NORWALKPD App for iPhone (Apple Store) or Android (Google Play).
• Anyone with a cell phone may send us an anonymous tip message by texting NORWALKPD and then the message/tip to 847411 (TIP411).
• Anonymous web tips can also be submitted right from our website at www.norwalkpd.com.