The Allentown Police Department is increasing its crime-fighting capability with a new app to help citizens connect with the department to find information, view alerts, and submit anonymous tips from their smartphone.
Mayor Ed Pawlowski and Police Chief Keith Morris unveiled the app at a late morning news conference today in City Council Chambers.
Developed by tip411, the Allentown PD app puts a powerful new crime-fighting tool into the hands of residents. The Allentown PD app is available for download for free via the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, or by visiting the Allentown Police Department website at http://www.allentownpa.gov/Police.
Pawlowski said, “This is the easiest method yet for our residents to send the department an anonymous tip about possible criminal activity in their neighborhoods. They can also receive alerts from the department on their phones.”
“The mission of the Allentown Police Department is to reduce crime and enhance the safety of our residents and visitors,” said Chief Morris. “We do this through collaboration with our diverse community, and believe tip411 will help us to better engage our stakeholders in making Allentown a safer and more welcoming place for all.”
Morris said it is important to note that the app is not a substitute for 911 and should not be used to report a crime in progress.
Like the department’s existing tip411 anonymous text a tip system, the new Allentown PD app enables the public to share an anonymous tip with police and lets officers respond back to create an anonymous two-way conversation. The app is monitored frequently, but is not monitored 24/7 and tipsters should not anticipate an immediate reply.
Downloading the app on an i-Phone is as simple as searching Allentown Tip and hitting Get and Install. Users can indicate if they want to be notified of Alerts.
“We’ve listened to feedback from partners like Allentown and have built a more advanced and innovative product to help departments better engage their communities,” said tip411 President Terry Halsch. “The Allentown PD app powered by tip411Mobile will greatly improve the public’s access to agency alerts, social media channels, important information, and more to help fight crime.”
The Allentown PD app and tip411 anonymous text a tip system that was established in 2012 are 100% anonymous. The technology removes all identifying information before police see the tips and there is no way to identify the sender.
Residents in Allentown without a smartphone will still be able to send an anonymous text tip via their cell phone to police by texting keyword TIPAPD and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the department’s website at http://www.allentownpa.gov/Police.
Mike Moore
Communications Manager
Mayor’s Office
435 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
http://www.AllentownPA.gov
