Thea Digiammerino

Hamden Police Launch Crime Fighting App

A new crime-fighting tool is available to download in the Town of Hamden.

The Hamden Police Department has rolled out a new tip-411 mobile app for residents to connect with officers. "Tip lines just a few years ago involved a telephone number and you’d leave a message on an answering machine," Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra said.

Now, residents can submit tips, pictures and videos through the app to help keep the town safe.

"The sky’s the limit," Chief Wydra said. “But what we need is for people to download the app and be interactive with us."

"I think it’s a great idea because sometimes you’re not near a regular phone," said Margaret Ariori from Hamden.

In addition to the crime map feature to keep the public informed, Wydra said the best feature of the new mobile app is that tips can be submitted anonymously.

"That is huge," he said. "That draws in folks who might not otherwise give us tips, young people in schools who might have information about a student who is planning something, who might be distressed."

Wydra said the first complaint came in through the app after 11 p.m. Wednesday - about underage drinking. "Sounds legitimate," Wydra said. "Something we can work on."

After NBC Connecticut told Andrea Lewis about the new Hamden Police app, she decided to download it on her phone.

"I think it makes the connection easier instead of having and go in and report and probably wait," she said. "It’s right away that you get notified and could help for a lot of families and parents."

Chief Wydra said he hopes the app can help investigators solve crimes, like finding out who is responsible for this week’s homicide of 18-year-old Leeandre Benton near the Farmington Canal Trail.

"This is a perfect opportunity for me to talk about tip 411 and the way people can give us information if they have any on that tragedy," he said.

The free Hamden Police tip app is now available to be downloaded from the iTunes or Google Play stores.

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