MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Police Department has a tip line that can be used to anonymously report suspicious or criminal activity.
The TIPS Line, 304-284-7520, does not require the caller to speak with an officer or dispatcher, Chief Ed Preston said. Just leave a voicemail and it will be listened to by detectives, who will follow up as appropriate.
Most tips on the line either get a case started, support an ongoing case or are not of concern, said Morgantown Communications Manager Andrew Stacy. He said the line is intended for things people wouldn’t normally call 911 about, such as activity that could possibly be criminal, but the caller is uncertain. It can also be used for things that have happened in the past, where the resident doesn’t want to be contacted by police — just make sure police have the information.
The TIPS Line was established several years ago and is used in conjunction with the city’s request tracker online at morgantownwv.gov/requesttracker.aspx, Stacy said. The request tracker allows people to report a number of issues, such as stray animals, building code violations, garbage issues and speeding or reckless driving.
Anonymous tip lines are a common practice in law enforcement. Sometimes a third party such as Crime Stoppers run them, Stacy said. The voicemails are not saved. Stacy said the information is received, vetted and removed to maintain anonymity.
The MPD can’t get a warrant or make an arrest based only on tips. He said the department has to establish probable cause before action can be taken and the tip line is only a tool to tell police where they need to start looking. The TIPS Line is unmanned and not a replacement for 911, Preston said. For emergencies, always call 911.
