Dec. 18--ATLANTIC CITY -- Crimefighting tips soon could be texted straight to police -- anonymously.
Public safety leaders recently saw a presentation for tip411, a program developed by St. Paul, Minn.-based CitizenObserver, that allows communication between police and the public via text. The Web-based application also allows the integration of social networking sites and alerts that can go to everyone or a specific group.
"We're not necessarily reinventing the wheel," said Dan Zell, marketing director. "We help take advantage of things that are already there and make it cost-effective."
He would not say how much the subscription costs, but that information would come out should the city decide to integrate it.
"I like what I saw," Deputy Chief Ernest Jubilee said of text411, which is currently used by the Cape May County Sheriff's Office. "It would be useful and it's not a very expensive program."
But a decision has not yet been made -- and a funding source must still be found.
"If we can identify enough dollars to do this, then I would present it to the administration," Jubilee said.
The biggest problem city law enforcement meets is getting people to come forward.
"I want the community to feel empowered to take back their community," Jubilee said. "When people stand up in the community, the criminals stand down. That's where I want to get to."
While police always stress that sources are confidential, there is a widely held belief in the community that this is not the case. Several residents have told of instances -- often learned secondhand -- where, if a call is made, police show up at the tipster's door. Jubilee and Deputy Chief Henry White have insisted this is not the case, and that anonymity is respected.
"Many times in law enforcement, we find some concern on the part of the public to contribute because of anti-snitching and fear of retaliation issues," Tourism Commander Tom Gilbert said.
The texting system also utilizes something residents use every day. And, the Police Department -- whose technology woes are well-known -- does already have cell phones.
The department has been making recent strides to rectify the technology problem. About a third of the 60-car fleet has computers, and bids recently were received for an audio-detection system for shots fired. ShotSpotter was the sole bidder, but the city is seeking bids again because it is looking to lease the system, rather than buy it. The change isn't a big one, and will likely result in the same company doing the work.
Tourism Commander Tom Gilbert said he spoke with Camden's police chief, and officials there are happy with the ShotSpotter program that they have integrated with their city-owned cameras. Camden bought the first time, but plans to lease when expanding its coverage.
Trenton police also purchased ShotSpotter, Detective Alexis Durlacher said.
While the system is supposed to alert police more quickly than a call to 911 would, Durlacher said, in Trenton, it does even more.
"People don't even call 911 for shootings," she said. "Now, we know when people are actually shooting."
There is also the ability to rewind and listen, to confirm how many shots were fired.
"This is one thing that does what it tells you it's going to do," she said.
Trenton also has a texting-tips ability, although it uses a different company. The method would work even better if the department had the funding to advertise the system, Durlacher said.
Gilbert said he also likes the texting idea to add to the "law enforcement toolbox."
"The core objectives of intelligence-led policing are to collect the dots so you can connect the dots," he said. "Many times the people within the community have the best level of knowledge and understanding about what is going on. This could encourage them to contribute toward the cleanliness and safety of their neighborhoods."
Contact Lynda Cohen:
609-272-7257
Copyright 2011 - The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.
