ICSO launches new online crime tip line

In an effort to solve cases, the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office introduced a new online crime tip line where residents can report crimes and new tips.

Prior to this, residents had to call a phone number. Now they can upload pictures and videos.

Lt. Jimmy Duran, of the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office, said, “In the past, this was not possible. So we had a lack of information coming from the tip line to the investigations division.”

New information submitted by the public will be sent to investigators.

Duran added, ” The investigator in charge of a certain case, which the public would like to submit information about, would go directly to that investigator as soon as the citizen hit enter.”

The tipline is user-friendly and convenient.

Brant Claussen, founder of the You and Blue website that hosts the crime tip line online, said, “They can use their phones. They can do it from the comfort of their own homes. And they can provide essential information to law enforcement so that we can solve crimes more quickly in our community.”

ICSO officials said any information given by the public will be confidential.

“It is important that the public feels safe when reporting and that’s why we’re ensuring the confidentiality is priority in this tipline,” said Duran.

The public plays a crucial role with helping law enforcement solve cases.

Duran said, “The public needs to understand that we rely on you. You are our eyes. You are our ears. And if you provide information that we can’t see or hear, that’s definitely going to make a difference.”

ICSO plans to launch a phone app that links to the tipline in the near future.

To access the online crime tip line, residents can go to youandblue.org and type in Imperial County.