State, Local Police Unveil ‘Text A Tip’ Program

The Connecticut State Police and local city Police Chiefs unveiled a 21st Century, cutting-edge technology tool on July 28 that will help solve crimes and protect Connecticut citizens.

Connecticut citizens are now able to text anonymous tips from their cellphones. The new system, dubbed “Text a Tip,” is completely anonymous and easy to use. Those with texting abilities from personal electronic devices can simply text 274637 (crimes), use the Connecticut State Police code TIP 711, and leave anonymous information about a crime.

The Connecticut State Police is the first state police agency in the nation to provide blanket coverage with a Text a Tip program.

“Today we are bringing 21st Century technology to the fight against crime in Connecticut. Gathering tips from concerned citizens has always been a resourceful way to solve crimes and to prevent future crimes. By implementing the Text a Tip program, we are offering residents another anonymous method by which to help local and state police,” noted Commissioner John A Danaher III of the state Department of Public Safety.

Commissioner Danaher was joined at the press conference by police chiefs from Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, and Waterbury. Each of these cities has its own dedicated tip code, although all messages can also go to the state police to be forwarded.

When a caller uses Text a Tip to text a tip to police, the tip is sent electronically to a main server that is not associated with any police agency. The server strips the text message of its identifying information before sending the tip back to the police agency for whom it was intended. The system is set up so that police will be able to respond back to the tipster, if needed, through the server, again without identifying the tipster.

“The text tip line is another option for those who wish to leave information about a crime. The new texting capability gives callers an opportunity to provide facts safely and anonymously right through their own cellphones,” said Colonel Thomas Davoren, commanding officer of the Connecticut State Police.

Text A Tip is strictly a system set up for tips from the public to the police. It is not to report crimes or be used for emergencies.