Monthly Media Availability with Chief Bratton Crime Tips Via Text Messaging and E-mails Can Now be Made Anonymously

WHAT:   
News Conference announcing the activation of new easy to use systems whereby people can provide information to the police anonymously.
        
WHEN:       
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:       
City Hall East
200 North Main Street
Los Angeles, CA  90012
(P-4 Level, Emergency Operations Boardroom, Room #E-146)

SECURITY:   
Due to security issues, the media is asked to arrive no later than 10:30 a.m., in the City Hall East lobby, located at 200 North Main Street.  Once assembled, the media will be escorted to the Emergency Operations Boardroom.
        
WHO:       
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Chief William Bratton, LAPD
Sheriff Lee Baca, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department
Deputy Chief Charlie Beck, Detective Bureau, LAPD
Captain Joel Justice, Commanding Officer, Regional Crime Center, LAPD
LAPD Command Staff

WHY:   
Since the very early days of policing, people have been fearful that reporting information to the police could have very undesirable outcomes.  A call about a crime could result in a visit from gun toting detectives or worse yet a uniformed officer in a marked police car.  The “bad guy” would be immediately tipped off and retaliation would be all but certain.  Perhaps a normally law abiding citizen would withhold information on a Murder for fear that the police would take an interest in the tipster’s traffic warrant.  

Ultimately many valuable tips were withheld from the police because people lacked confidence that their identity would be held in the confidence.

Through the use of a third party interface tipsters can be completely anonymous.  The third party interface provides the user with a code by which they can add new information and claim any possible reward.

The system is easy to use and has proved successful in other jurisdictions.                       

CONTACT:   
For additional information, please contact Lieutenant Sean Malinowski, Regional Crime Center at 213-978-6500, or LAPD Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.