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Residents may now get sheriff's office alerts
By Dan Eakin, deakin@starlocalnews.com
Citizens may now sign up for the Collin County Alert Network to receive alerts from the Collin County Sheriff's Office (CCSO).
Those interested may sign up for the free service at www.collincountytx.gov, and then receive alerts via email or text message.
"Through this website, the Collin County Sheriff's Office will provide information to help maintain and improve community safety," said Lt. John Norton of the CCSO. "Those who sign up may also opt to receive surrounding city alerts that are on the CitizenObserver alert system."
The community safety initiative is the second phase of the Alert Network and is now operational.
"The Collin County Alert Network is a new interactive way to keep the community connected and informed through opt-in email, text messaging and web published public safety alerts," Norton said. "The new initiative also enables the public to report suspicious activities easily through the tip411 text messaging code."
The first phase, the tip411 program enabling the public to submit anonymous tips to the sheriff's office through text messaging, began in February.
"While this is not a replacement for dialing 911 in an emergency, this technology allows people to communicate potentially helpful information," Norton said. The tipster simply texts CCSO and the message or tip to 847411 (tip411).
Someone in the sheriff's office can respond to the tipster, who will continue to remain anonymous. No one in the CCSO has a way to access the identity of the individual reporting the information.
Norton said citizens may also submit anonymous web tips through the system.
"A new iPhone app is now available through iTunes that enables the public to send anonymous tips to the sheriff's office and lets us respond, creating a two-way anonymous chat," Norton said. A link to the app is located on the Anonymous Tips tab of the sheriff's office page.
For more information about the Collin County Alert Network, call the public information office of the CCSO at 972-547-5111.
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