Comments on From My Inbox

lol! wuz funy.

"Text-a-Crime" is a lame name. As this post implies, it should clearly be called "LOLtipz."

Obviously they won't look up the phone number of the guy who texts in the murder tip... it's the honor system, man!

I'm thinking #3 is right. It's no different than any other anonymous phone tip line, where they can easily get the caller's number. They probably just don't look at it or use it for anything.

The tipper's wireless carrier will have the mobile number the txt originated from, obviously the account name and contact info associated with that mobile number, the timestamp as to when the txt was sent, as well as the ID of the company's cell tower closest to the mobile phone that sent the txt.

It's not exactly anonymous unless the wireless carrier strips out the identifying information before sending it to the SPD. I mean, telecom companies aren't known for releasing private information to law enforcement without a warrant, are they?

Frankly, I'm more suspect that this is a Chief K. distraction from all the problems in his poorly run department.

and they'll STILL take three hours to check it out, if at all, kthxbye

WTF? Shouldn't I just call 911 if I see a crime happening? Or is this for when I get home and feel bad that I left the guy stabbed and bleeding on Capitol Hill while I gave a ride to a psycho bitch I can report the crime and alleviate some of my guilt? And if the tippers really think they are anon. then I've got some real estate I'd like to tell them about...

it's a preemptive strike against roving gangs of criminal cyberbikers.

If you call 911 a recording proves you made the call. If you text they can ignore it and later say "Sorry, we forgot to charge the phone" while they are actually out harrassing night clubs.

How many people were employed thinking up this idea, and how many will implement it, and how much do they all get paid, and how many street officers' salaries would that sum pay for?

I just laughed WAY to hard.... awesome post.

Yep, just another "make the public think we're doing something constructive, when all we're really doing is implementing another useless technological 'fix' that everyone - including us - will have completely forgotten about in eight or nine months" program from your good friends at the SPD.

Well, if they want a police response it would be

"OMG the man w an ax @ my door just ran a red on his bike!"

That's a HORRIBLE idea! Please say it's a joke. At least most people are too inhibited to prank 911, but where's the disincentive here? This is either going to lead to cops investigating bogus info (and violating some rights at the same time), not having enough information to properly investigate, or ignoring calls because they assume it's a prank. Plus, it will be impossible for cops to stop people (or rather have the stops upheld by a court) or get warrants based solely on information from a text. I can't see how anyone would want this. Except for the cell phone companies.

Um, I texted that my car was being stolen, and they still haven't shown up two hours later ... are you sure this thing works?

I had to look at my calendar to make sure this wasn't another shitty April Fools joke.

Huh. They e-mailed this to you? Why didn't they text it?

http://www.thememoryhole.org/policestate/ny-tips.htm