Tomball law enforcement enhance efficiency with mobile apps

In the meantime, Chief Robert Hauck said Tip Submit—which allows citizens to play an important role in catching criminals—has proved a successful initiative. Individuals can submit a tip through a text message or by downloading an app available for iPhone and Android devices. All tips remain anonymous, as the app makes it impossible to see phone numbers or IP addresses.

"We have had great success with this application," he said. "We have had tips where people have told us about people dealing or using drugs and our detectives have been able to work those up into cases and take drugs off the street.

"We had one where a student at a high school submitted a tip through their phone that basically said, 'Hey, there's going to be a fight at this area near the gym,' and, sure enough, our student resource officer got the tip and immediately went over there just as the fight was about to start."

Whether a person submits a tip through text message, online or through the app, an anonymous dialogue begins with the police department, Hauck said. An officer can ask further questions or the tipster can review follow-up information on their tip.

Law enforcement leaders are also experimenting with using iPads instead of laptops for a variety of tasks, and are using other mobile functions to make their operations more effective, Hauck said. The department continues to search for useful emerging media.

"We are looking at software specific to helping detectives at crime scenes," he said. "[We want to] find apps to help us out."