Police set up new line for anonymous tips

Cape Girardeau police have set up a special tips line that allows witnesses to call in crime tips without revealing their names or telephone numbers.

"We have lots of ways people can call in, but ... every once in a while, you hear about somebody [who] says, 'They know who's calling,'" said Darin Hickey, public information officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department. " ... This is just more to give people peace of mind."

Any call that comes in on the new line will show up on caller ID as "private caller" instead of revealing the tipster's name and number, the department reported in a news release Tuesday.

The idea is to ease people's fears about calling the station and being identified on caller ID, Hickey said.

It is not intended as a replacement for the CrimeStoppers line or the main station number, he said.

"This is for anonymous tips that you might want to give in that you might not call on otherwise," Hickey said.

For instance, he said, someone might remember some small detail about a vehicle involved in a crime. That tidbit of information could lead officers to a suspect.

"Even just a little bit or piece of information that somebody might have about a color or a make or a license plate ... that's something for an officer to follow up," Hickey said.

He said police still need witnesses who are willing to come forward and testify in court, but the new line provides another option for people who are afraid or unwilling to do so.

"We want to encourage people to be involved in their community and stand up for their neighborhood," Hickey said.

The new number is 339-6313.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.