Cinnaminson Police Implement Tip Line

The is joining up with WeTip, an anonymous crime-reporting system, so residents have a number to call to give information to police without revealing their identities.

The police department does not currently have a tip hotline in place.

“This is one of the best things we are doing for the police department right now,” said . “It’s a really, really good program. When I came here and I saw we had no anonymous tip line, I immediately thought of this.”

Officials from WeTip, along with King, will hold a press conference Wednesday to talk about the program and also train Cinnaminson officers on the program.

WeTip operators work out of Southern California and relay information to local police when calls come in. An operator answers the call by saying “This is the WeTip Anonymous Crime hotline, do not give your name or identify yourself in any way.”

Questions are asked of the caller in order to obtain as much information as available to give to the officers.

“People are concerned with their identify getting out there,” King said. “Now, all they have to do is pick up the phone and say ‘I heard this’ or ‘I saw this.’ That might be all the officers need to crack the case.”

Nationally, WeTip’s hotline, which can be found at 1-800-78-CRIME, has helped law enforcement officials capture more criminals than any other anonymous citizens’ hotline, according to the company's website.

The township will work with citizens, businesses, and associations throughout Cinnaminson to successfully implement the program, King said.

“It’s an ongoing partnership,” he said.

The cost of the program is $2,000 a year. The money goes to all partnerships for base money for rewards for people who give integral information for police cases.

“We’re going to find funds in the budget for it this year and next year,” King said, “we’ll look for alternate ways to fund the program.”

The tip line will be ready to use Oct. 1.