Students and fans now can text the word MSUPD, along with a specific message to 274637 (CRIMES) if they have a crime to report. When the system receives the message, the sender will receive an auto-reply confirmation containing a unique TIP identification code. The message is then anonymously forwarded to MSUPD.

“Hopefully things people are doing that they shouldn’t be, people will report it more,” MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said.

During Saturday’s game against Western Michigan, the department received “only two” messages but expects the number to increase as the program becomes more widely recognized, McGlothian-Taylor said
“We had a request to clean up vomit that wouldn’t typically be handled by the police and another was a person who had a heart attack,” she said.

East Lansing police Capt. Tom Johnstone said although East Lansing police have not implemented a program similar to the anonymous texting tips, the department is keeping an eye on the use of technology to aide patrolling.

“We’ll take info any way we can get it,” he said. “From what I know of, it seems like a
good idea.”

If MSU Police require assistance for a particular tip, Johnstone said ELPD would respond and assist in anyway possible. Johnstone said any time the police can get real-time information regarding a crime, it increases their response time to an incident.

“It gives us a better chance to intervene and get involved where we should be involved,” Johnstone said.
MSU students had mixed feelings about the new anonymous text message service.

Marketing freshman Steven Rich said he would have no problem using the service.

“I would use it, but it would kind of depend on the extent of the crime,” Rich said. “If it was a violent crime, a rape or terrorist attack, I would use it but if it was someone under 21 that’s drunk, I wouldn’t call that in.”

But special education senior Erin Dillon said she wouldn’t use the service unless it was absolutely necessary. She said she wasn’t confident in technology’s ability to report a crime promptly and accurately.

“I don’t think that texts are reliable,” Dillon said. “I would rather call in a crime. It’s much faster to call. I guess some people would prefer it, but personally I wouldn’t use it. Sometimes I think we rely on technology too much.”

McGlothian-Taylor said the service should be used for non-emergencies and if someone sees a serious crime occurring, they need to call 911.

“Anything that is non-emergency that the public feels needs addressing, they can send us a message,” McGlothian-Taylor said. “It allows you to do it with discretion and without the fear of
being identified.”

“The most important thing is to utilize it the way it is meant to be used,” she said. “We’re just trying to make a safe environment for everyone.”