Chelmsford Police Launch Anonymous Tip App

CHELMSFORD, MA — If you've ever wondered if there's an app where you can find quick information about the police department, submit nonemergency tips and anonymous tips, well, there's now an app for that in Chelmsford.

Thursday the Chelmsford police department unveiled it is participating in the "Tip411" app, which allows people to submit tips via the app, text, a link on the town website, and a link embedded on the police department's Facebook page.

"We strongly encourage residents to download the app to stay informed and access information at their convenience," said Chief James Spinney in a statement. “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.”

Tip411 was created by the Minnesota-based company Citizen Observer in 2001, according to its Facebook Page, but became a registered Limited Liability corporation in Minnesota in 2006, according to government filings and is being used by police departments across the country from Massachusetts to Texas.

Still, little has been reported about the company, which does not include information about the people who run the company online. Barry Butzow and Terry Halsch, both of Minnesota, are listed as current executives, according to business filings. Patch has reached out to the company for more information.

Supporters of similar apps say the system provides a way that people who don't usually feel comfortable reaching out to the police can do so without having to call or worry about their legal status or own criminal history. Critics of the tipster apps such as this one say the system might become overwhelmed with frivolous tips that could take away the attention of investigators from more serious crime.

It's unclear what the cost of the system is to the town.

For those who may want to send tips through app, but stay anonymous, police said all identifying information is removed before they receive a tip. Anyone can share a tip with police, and officers can respond back to create an anonymous two-way conversation. On their end, police can sort and manage tips, similar to dispatch calls. Although the police call log is considered public in Massachusetts, it's unclear how public the substance of the tips will be.

Through the system Chelmsford Police Department can also send out messages through the app dashboard for residents to receive by text, Twitter, Facebook, and app notification. The process makes sending out and receiving information easier, all on one platform, police said.

Police can also 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. For those who want to sign up, you can do so online or on a mobile device by downloading the app through a link on the town website. Check out the video of how to: here.

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