Council approves three-year TIP 4 1 1 subscription using opioid grant funds

Escanaba City Council approved a $10,692, three-year subscription to the TIP 4 1 1 anonymous-tip app using opioid grant funds awarded through Delta County.

Why it matters: Police officials said anonymous tips can yield information not otherwise reported and that anonymity concerns have limited reporting related to drug activity. The app also can publish community alerts and resources, officials said.

At the meeting Public Safety Director Goodwill (identified in the meeting as the presenter) told council members the app is widely used by law enforcement and is designed to preserve anonymity when residents submit tips. “There’s no way if they wanna be anonymous, they send a text and it’s sent,” Goodwill said. He said the city received Delta County grant funding that covers the three-year subscription and that the department would assign supervisors and detectives to monitor submissions so tips are actionable.

Goodwill described additional uses for the platform beyond anonymous tips: public alerts about road closures and information about local resources such as a drug take-back box and Narcan dispenser at the police department. He said his office and partner organizations could post resource links and outreach information through the app.

Councilors asked about oversight. Goodwill said supervisors and detectives would be tied to the account and monitor tips; not every officer would have full access. Goodwill said the grant covers the three-year cost and that the subscription term is 36 months.

The council moved and approved the subscription using the awarded opioid grant funds; a roll call recorded affirmative votes.