Police department begins tip line
Published 6:00 am Wednesday, April 15, 2020
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The Farmville Police Department has begun a new tip line to help solve crimes in the area.
According to Farmville Police Chief Andy Ellington, the new TIP411 is a cellphone and web-based application that allows citizens to report tips to the department anonymously.
A.Q. “Andy” Ellington
“Often, our ability to solve crimes depends a great deal upon the involvement of our citizens,” Ellington said. “By embracing new technologies, we are working to proactively enhance those lines of communication between our community and the police department.
Ellington said callers using the new tip line will be able to attach photographs and videos.
According to Ellington, all information provided when a citizen submits a tip is kept strictly confidential.
“When you submit a tip, it is sent to a third-party tip service, which acts as a privacy buffer between you and the Farmville Police Department,” Ellington said. “Identity is protected, as well as contact information.”
The new TIP411 is available in several different options.
Citizens may submit a tip by texting 847411. In the message area, begin by typing in FarmvillePD, enter a space, then type your tip and hit send. It is important that the keyword FarmvillePD be included before the message.
When the text message is sent to the Farmville Police Department, contact information is scrubbed from the message that TIP411 sends to the police department.
“This service is 100% anonymous,” Ellington said.
Option two includes downloading the free app by searching tip411 Farmville PD from either the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Option three is to submit a tip online.
Submit an anonymous tip online by visiting the website at www.farmvilleva.com. Select departments from the drop-down menu, then select Police Department.
Ellington said this tip line is not meant as a substitute to a 911 request for police in the event of an emergency.
If citizens do not have an emergency but still need an officer to respond, they should contact the police department (434) 392-9259.
