Amid Anti-Texting Laws, Police Endorse One Form

While it's against Minnesota law to text while driving, Shakopee Police are now endorsing one avenue of texting.

A new phone texting service allows Shakopee residents to send anonymous crime tips directly to police officers. Texting the word “spdtips” to 847411 tells police to follow up with the reporting citizen while preserving that person's anonymity. 

Police see this as beefing up the way they collect information about crimes.

“We want to really hit it in the schools,” Shakopee Police Chief Jeff Tate said. “You have to be able to speak their language, and this is a way to completely anonymously send us a text message.”   

Tate said his department is also experimenting with phone text alerts, which notify subscribing citizens about emergency situations in the city.

“It’s been a good tool,” Tate said. “But we haven’t sent out a lot of alerts yet. We’re still getting our feet wet.”

For those who would rather submit information electronically, an online forum allows people to submit information from their computers about suspected crimes. This web-based community policing tool also features a crime alert signup network and information about neighborhood watch groups in the Shakopee area.

At least two Shakopee residents see some potential, but also question the practicality, of alerting police through texts.

"It depends how volatile the situation was," said Mike Smith, 52, of Shakopee. "I'd rather see people be safe, so I like the idea, especially in the high schools. I think (the program) empowers the good kids to stand up for kids being bullied. Sometimes those kids need to be protected. I also think it's not a bad thing for people to get caught when they commit crimes."

Courtney Cronin, 20, of Shakopee, said she would "probably would use it" and that schools kids, in particular, might find it more appealing than actually phoning the police.

"Sometimes I think it would just be faster to talk to someone. You don't always have the opportunity to text," Cronin said. "I also think texting can be an escape sometimes. Rather than talking to someone face-to-face or picking up a phone or actually communicating with someone, it's easier to text. That's a problem."

Community policing, Tate said, is the most effective way to deter crime. The police chief recommends talking to your neighbors, setting up block parties and keeping a close eye on your community.

“I want to encourage people to come talk to us or talk to me if they have an issue,” he said.

You can sign up for text alerts or submit an online crime tip at the Shakopee Police Department Web site.