From Telegram & Gazette
Original publication date: July 21, 2011

Webster, Ma. — The Webster police department is launching the second generation of its Community Notification System, a new interactive way to keep the community connected and informed through opt-in e-mail, text message and web-published public safety alerts.

The new initiative will also enable the public to report suspicious activities through the tip411 anonymous text messaging code.

Interested persons can sign up for the Community Notification System for free via the link on www.websterpolice.com.

The department is encouraging all residents and current subscribers to the Nixle Alert System to sign up for this new service, as the Nixle system has been phased out.

Subscribers can sign up to receive alerts from the Police Department via e-mail or as a text message to a cell phone.

The other component of this new technology is the tip411 program, which will enable the public to submit anonymous tips to the Police Department via text messaging. This is not a replacement for dialing 911 in an emergency. The tipster simply texts WPD01570 and their message to 847411 (tip411). When police receive the message, they can respond to the tipster, who will continue to remain anonymous. The Webster Police Department has no way to access the identity of the individual reporting the information. Citizens may also submit anonymous web tips through the system. CitizenObserver’s technology removes all identifying information before the Police Department sees it, so there is no way to identify the sender.

All community alert notifications will also be simultaneously published to the department’s website, Facebook page and Twitter page.

For more information, to sign up to receive alerts or to submit an anonymous web alert, visit www.websterpolice.com.

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