Some Tipsters Having Trouble With New Police Texting System
CHICAGO (CBS) -- One day after unveiling its new anonymous text-messaging number, some people trying to text tips to the Chicago Police Department are having problems.
Some Tipsters Having Trouble With New Police Texting System
Police Department spokesman Adam Collins said the system is up and running, that the department is getting tips that are being passed along to detectives, and that he knows of no problems. Tweets and e-mail to WBBM indicate that some text messages have bounced back.
Collins said police believe it's the way the rejected tips were written. All messages must begin with the letters "CPD," as in Chicago Police Department.
"If you leave out the word "CPD" at the beginning of the message, you will get an error response," Collins said.
Messages are to be texted to 274637, which spells "Crimes."
Collins declined to say how many tips have been texted, but he said it's an effort by the force to make it as easy as possible to report crime and information that could be helpful to detectives.
