Member Since: 4/23/2007
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See A Crime? Don't Call Police...Text them!
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- The Franklin Police Department introduced an innovative new crime-fighting tool Monday at Franklin High School.
The department is the first law enforcement agency in the state to be able to handle anonymous text messaging tips from the public. Anyone in the community will be able to text tips.
A third-party company called Citizen Observer removes the phone number, replaces it with an ID number and sends it on to police, making it anonymous. Dispatchers and detectives can then reply back to the tipster using a two-way conversation, similar to Instant Messaging. Police said there is a possible lag time of a few minutes, depending on Internet traffic.
The program was rolled out Monday to departments across the country, with the Franklin Police Department being the first in Tennessee to have these capabilities. It will go online Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Police warn the system should never replace 911.
"(If) there is an active incident in a school, the worst thing that you could possibly do is text this with the assumption that someone's is going to immediately see it and immediately send a car," said Charlie Warner, Franklin police spokesman. "This is something that's used as a tool to provide information on … crimes that we can either prevent. For example, 'I saw a gun in locker 122 today.'"
One concern students brought up Monday is abuse of the system. The Franklin Police Department said it's a risk they're willing to take if they're able to prevent one crime by it.
This new system is expected to help fight crime by allowing the public to easily get in contact with police even if a phone is not available.
Students said they're more likely to send a tip via text than by picking up the phone and calling an officer.
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