Sandy PD goes high tech, utilizes Crime Reports

In the past, reporting a crime meant making a phone call or talking to an officer. The Sandy Police Department has now made this process much easier through the Tip Submit application for most smart phones. It allows people to report suspicious behaviors and other offenses through their phones with complete anonymity.

Arnold said the service allows tipsters to submit a tip with information about the type of offense, information about the suspect and vehicle and a description of the crime. This app also allows people to submit a photo. People who don’t have smart phones can still submit tips by texting the information to 274637 or “CRIMES” with the keyword “SANDYTIPS.”

The tip is routed through a main server and then sent to the appropriate agency. Sandy Police Department has officers that routinely check Sandy’s account for new tips and get them to the correct department.

What makes this app unique is that tipsters can submit information about crimes without providing personal information. This allows people to remain anonymous and makes the police aware of problems residents see.

Because the tips are sent anonymously, officers cannot contact tipsters unless they choose to provide their contact information.

 Sandy PD has also introduced a new service called Crime Reports, which allows residents to see where crimes have occurred on a Google map. The information includes the type of crime and a listing of registered sex offenders in the area. The information is gathered from more than 600 law enforcement agencies around the country and updated weekly.

“We are continually one of the safest cities in the United States because we have a very proactive police department who relies heavily on dedicated citizens who keep us informed,” Police Chief Steven Chapman said. “We are pleased to add this type of service to our department, making it easier than ever to report pertinent information about crime in our community.”