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Police representative presents Tip411 app to broaden two‑way city communications
Summary
A police department representative demonstrated Tip411, an app and anonymous‑tip platform, and told the council a two‑year subscription would cost about $7,800; council members asked about rollout, management, cost‑sharing and vendor metrics and requested more information before a decision.
A police department representative (Justin) described a Tip411 demonstration designed to allow residents to submit anonymous tips and for city departments to push targeted notifications by ward or topic.
"This allows for anonymous tips," Justin said, adding that tips could be partitioned so only designated staff see them and that the vendor would assist with marketing and training so residents could download the app. He told the council a two‑year subscription would cost about $7,800.
Justin said the platform would support a range of emergency‑services and city uses — road closures, water‑main breaks, Hazmat warnings, vaccination clinics or blood drives — and that departments could control who is authorized to post. He emphasized the need to train and vet users so public messages are reviewed by appropriate chiefs or officials.
Council members asked practical questions about who would operate the system, whether the city would advertise it on its website, how many other municipalities use the service, and whether cost could be split among police, fire, EMS and city budgets. Justin offered to gather vendor materials and flowcharts and to arrange an informational session for a future meeting.
No procurement vote or funding commitment was made at the meeting.
