New AFOSI anonymous tip line allows base-level agents to investigate crime

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
  • 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom --  In an effort to stem the "insider threat" to Air Force people and resources, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations is taking advantage of a primary means of communication among Airmen - Smartphones.

Using a new application, "TipSubmitMobile," all Smartphone users have the ability to communicate with AFOSI.

"We wanted to give Airmen a convenient, and most importantly, an anonymous means, to report activity detrimental to fellow Airmen," said Special Agent Greg Pfeiffer, superintendent of AFOSI Detachment 514 at RAF Alconbury. "With this system, they can get involved without fear of exposure. Airmen really want to do the right thing, but are often hesitant because of perceived social repercussions."

This tool allows anyone to provide OSI with anonymous tips on everything from drugs and theft to terrorist activities and potential insider threats, according to Brig. Gen. Kevin Jacobsen, Air Force OSI commander, in a memorandum Sept. 28.

"In the past, people reported tips to AFOSI through various means, such as walk-in reporting, via their chain of command, calling local security forces squadron or AFOSI numbers leaving personal or recorded messages, authoring letters and mailing them to AFOSI anonymously, and on some occasions people would report tips to local law enforcement tip lines," said Pfeiffer. "These reporting mechanisms remain and will continue to be used as they provide people with varying levels of anonymity."

TipSubmitMobile is also available from personal computers, and whether by Smartphone or PC, the app allows tipsters to submit electronic photos.

"By sending us photos, the investigators can see what the person reporting the activity sees, which lets us collaborate the information," said Pfeiffer.

Though this new app was launched on the Air Force level, the information it collects directly affects base-level OSI detachments.

"When someone provides a tip to the Air Force-wide tip line and the issue is local, the tip will come to the [RAF Alconbury] office for AFOSI Det 514 to pursue," Pfeiffer said.

Like any emerging technology, however, the anonymous tip line is only effective if people use it.

"This is especially important within the 501st Combat Support Wing," said Pfeiffer. "With the area we cover in Det. 514, we need the community as a whole to be our eyes and ears to help keep us aware of any threats out there."

AFOSI initiated this process to enable anyone to report suspicious, threatening or other activity that may be of interest without putting his or her life in jeopardy.

"It's better to have said something and nothing was wrong than to have stayed quiet and watch something terrible happen," said Pfeiffer.

People can send tips one of three ways: via the Internet, SMS (text messaging) and the smart phone application.

The website and mobile app work from anywhere in the world and the text message will only work from overseas if the individual has a data plan allowing them to text directly to U.S. phones.

To download the free Smartphone app, go to the Apple Application Store or Android Market function.

You can also scan the QR code with your smart phone to get to the internet site to report a tip.

To report a tip via the internet, go to https://www.tipsubmit.com/WebTips.aspx?AgencyID=1111.

The number to send a text is 274637 (CRIMES).

To download a trifold with detailed instructions on the program, click here www.osi.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-121001-036.pdf.