Rapid City, S.D. –The Rapid City Police Department is launching Tip411, a program that allows the public to submit anonymous crime tips to law enforcement via text and the web.
Tipsters can submit information by texting ‘RCPD’ and the information to 847411 (tip411). The message is routed through a third-party company to remove all identifying information before sending the message on to police. Police can respond to the tipster, who will continue to remain anonymous.
“There is great potential in this program, which gives people the ability to text police with information,” said Chief of Police Steve Allender. “We practice community policing, which maintains that citizen participation is key. This service fits right in to that philosophy, allowing everybody, particularly young people, to pass along information that can help us solve cases.”
The public can also submit anonymous tips online, through a secure link on the RCPD website. Messages submitted through the website will also be stripped of identifying information before they are delivered to police.
The program is not monitored 24 hours a day, and should not be used as a replacement for dialing 911 in an emergency. However, the technology will be beneficial for helping people communicate information to police.
In addition to the anonymous tip service, the public can also sign up to receive public safety alerts from the police department. Subscribers can receive alerts via email or text message, with options to receive neighborhood and/or citywide alerts.
Both the tip submission and safety alert services are free to the public, though standard text messaging rates from the user’s wireless provider may apply.
To submit a tip online or sign up for alerts from the police department, visit www.rapidcitypolice.org.
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