Crime Prevention
Tip 411 Program
Text a tip to the Takoma Park Police Department and remain 100% anonymous.
- Text to 847411
- Type TPPDTIP at the beginning of your message.
- Type your message including as much detail as possible to ensure that your tip is thoroughly investigated.
You can also send a tip using the Takoma Park Police Department’s Facebook page. In the left hand column you will find a link to “submit a tip.” Your tip is important and CAN make a difference!
Have a security camera on your property?
Sign up for Community Cam.
What is Community Cam?
It is a new crime fighting tool that citizens and businesses within the City of Takoma Park can use to register their private video surveillance systems to assist the police department in solving crime and crime prevention.
What is the cost of the program?
The Community Cam program is free.
How does it work?
Simply go to the website http://communitycam.takomaparkmd.gov/ and register your camera system and you will only be contacted by the police department if there is a criminal incident in the vicinity of your security camera. The program is voluntary and you can exit the program at any time.
What is the benefit of the program?
The program helps the police department and the community work together in a partnership to prevent and solve crimes in Takoma Park. The program assists investigators with a streamlined method of locating possible video evidence.
Does the Police Department store my video?
The police department does not store or have access to your video footage without your permission. If criminal activity occurs within the area of your video system the police department will ask to view your footage in an effort to solve and prevent crimes. The police department does not have direct access to your system unless that permission is given (see website for further information).
Gang Prevention
Gangs are neither just a big city nor inner city problem, nor are they a problem of a particular race or culture. Gangs cross all ethnic, racial, socioeconomic, gender, and geographical boundaries. They bring fear and violence to neighborhoods, traffic in drugs, destroy property, involve youth in crime, and drive out businesses. Gangs pull teens away from school and home into a life of violence.
When Takoma Park Police officers come into contact with a juvenile who claims to be in a gang, the department sends a letter to parents, by certified, return receipt mail, notifying them of the contact so that they may discuss the circumstances with their child(ren). Along with that letter is information to assist them in recognizing and preventing further gang involvement by their child(ren). The information also provides a list of public and private non-profit agencies that specialize in intervention and counseling of active and potential gang members.
