AFOSI uses new system to anonymously fight crime

  • Published
  • By Carl Grusnick
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The Air Force Office of Special Investigations has purchased a system that allows individuals to report tips anonymously through text, website or a smartphone application.

"This is not a replacement for '911' or other local emergency reporting avenues but rather a venue that allows people who may have critical information to advise policing agencies," said Monte Waters, 377th Security Forces Squadron Crime Prevention Specialist.

Information provided will be sent to a local AFOSI detachment and then will be distributed to the appropriate local agency.

"We want to give Airmen a convenient, and most importantly, an anonymous means, to report activity detrimental to fellow Airmen. With this system, they can get involved without fear of exposure or retribution from others," said Christian Oliver, superintendent of AFOSI Detachment 116. "Airmen really want to do the right thing, but are often hesitant because of perceived social repercussions."

Of special concern to Air Force officials are violent crimes against Airmen, sexual assaults, and drug use.

The application uses industry standard secure socket layers connection, which encrypts information exchange to ensure anonymity. When accessing the app and submitting a tip, a file number is created for retrieval. Later, the tipster can check back and see comments by an OSI agent and provide more information on the concern.

"With SSL, the agent can only review the posted information, which is only accessible by the tipster and the OSI," says Oliver, "Air Force members and the OSI agent can continue to converse anonymously through the secure system."

TipSubmitMobile is also available from personal computers, and whether by smartphone or PC, the app allows tipsters to submit electronic photos.
To download the free smartphone app, go to the Apple Application Store or Android Market function.

You can also send in tips by texting 'AFOSI' and the tip to 274637 (CRIMES).  For more information, go to http://www.osi.af.mil .

To download a detailed trifold on the program, go to http://www.osi.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-121003-042.pdf

Editor's note: Adam Bailey, Nucleus staff writer, contributed to this article.