East Providence Police Launch New tip411 Anonymous Tip System for Customized Crime-Fighting
Innovative new East Providence PD app helps better connect police with the public
EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – February 15, 2022 – The East Providence Police Department is adding a new app to its crime-fighting arsenal, one that will help residents connect with the department to find information, view alerts, and submit anonymous tips from their smartphone.
Developed by tip411, the East Providence PD app puts a powerful new crime-fighting tool into the hands of community members of all ages. And thanks to funding from the East Bay Regional Coalition, East Providence Prevention Coalition, and the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals, the East Providence PD app is available for download for free via the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, or by visiting the East Providence Police Department website at https://eastprovidenceri.gov/departments/police.
“Our goal is to make it easy for the people of East Providence to communicate with our department, and, by working together, continue to make East Providence an exceptional place to live, work and visit,” said Chief Christopher Francesconi. “With our new tip411 app, we have added another way for the community to access our department so that we may respond to any concerns and continue to keep our community safe.”
The East Providence PD app and tip411 anonymous text-a-tip system is 100% anonymous. The technology removes all identifying information before police see the tips. In this way, the new East Providence PD app enables the public to share an anonymous tip with police and lets officers respond back to create an anonymous two-way conversation.
Some neighboring communities already have an anonymous tip line by tip411. These communities have reported tips from residents ranging from serious threats, such as drugs and alcohol being sold to minors and suicide prevention, to quality of life issues such as parking violations and bullying.
Residents in East Providence without a smartphone can share information with police by sending an anonymous text tip via their cell phone to police by texting the keyword EPPOLICE and sending their message/tip to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the department’s website at https://eastprovidenceri.gov/departments/police.
Funding for the anonymous text-a-tip line and app was made possible by the East Bay Regional Coalition. The Coalition is one of the substance abuse task forces of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals. It is comprised of members of municipal prevention coalitions and other community stakeholders from Barrington, Bristol, East Providence, and Warren.
