| In an effort to make it easier for teenagers to | | | | program. |
| report wrong doing, the Newport Police Department | | | | It is important to note that the new e-mail address is |
| has set up a system through which teenagers can | | | | not actually a part of the Crime Line program-a |
| text or e-mail the police department to notify them | | | | program that lets people report crimes anonymously |
| about shady activity or crime that they witness. The | | | | over the telephone. The Newport Police Department |
| system was designed to cater to the technology | | | | insists, however, that they will take every available |
| that teens feel the most comfortable working with: | | | | avenue to ensure the anonymity of the person |
| their cell phones. | | | | sending in the tips. The department acknowledges |
| The Newport Police Department does not mean to | | | | that many teenagers do not report the crimes they |
| stereotype teenagers or imply that they would be | | | | see because they are afraid of retribution from the |
| less likely to simply call in nefarious activity; the | | | | criminal and of repercussions from their peer groups. |
| system was set up as an acknowledgement that | | | | The Chief of Police in Newport recently told News |
| teenagers have more experience with texting and | | | | Channel Three that the program was put into place |
| using their cell phones as more than simple | | | | because the department believes that young people |
| telephones. | | | | are "in the know" about what goes on in the |
| Teenagers are quite adept at sending text messages | | | | Newport community and that the new program was |
| and e-mails via their cell phones. They are far more | | | | developed as a way to cater to their comfort zone |
| comfortable with this technology than adults and the | | | | and encourage them to get involved. He |
| Newport authorities acknowledge that the text | | | | acknowledges that teenagers seem to communicate |
| messaging/e-mail system allows teenagers to report | | | | almost primarily via text message and cell phone and |
| uncomfortable situations subtly. The Newport | | | | hopes that the ease with which they can now report |
| authorities hope that the anonymity guaranteed by | | | | crimes will help teenagers feel like stronger members |
| the system will encourage teenagers to be more | | | | of the Newport community. |
| active in keeping police "in the loop." | | | | It is certainly true that teenagers are very adept at |
| In an effort to help the teenagers feel more involved | | | | text messaging and sending e-mail via a cell phone |
| in the launch of this program, the Newport Police | | | | and they certainly are privy to quite a lot of |
| Department worked with Newport high school and | | | | information that adults tend to overlook or ignore. |
| middle school students to develop two slogans for | | | | Hopefully more communities will take Newport's lead |
| the program: "Text it, Send it, Help End it!" and "Text | | | | and develop a crime reporting program that allows |
| the 411 to 911 at " They have also been working | | | | tipsters to keep their anonymity while helping the |
| with the students to design releases and brochures | | | | police keep the community safe. |
| that educate the rest of the public about the | | | | |