How do I report a problem to the police while staying anonymous?

Question

Hello there.

There is this home down the street that always smell strongly of pot when we walk by...They also have TONs of different people going in and out of the house on a daily basis...lots of loud base music, screaming, fighting, junk in the yard...etc. My mailbox in right in front of their house and I am too scared to check it when they are just sitting in their lawn chairs in front of their garage. ...they are there ALL day long screaming and throwing things at their young kids. This is a nice neighborhood, but this particular home makes me worrisome.

Answer 1

I am a dispatcher for our local city state and county officers and we always ask for a name, but let me tell you why. Sometimes, callers are very vague with the information that they give. They may try to give all the information that they can about whatever is going on at the time, but lets just say that you give this information "It's coming from the tan house just down from the corner of main and anywhere." We will give that information to the officers that are going to investigate your complaint, but sometimes that information isn't enough. Lets say there are 2 houses "just down from the corner of main and anywhere." If the officers can not determine what house it is that you are talking about, they will then get on the radio and ask the dispatcher to call the complainant back and try to get further information. I would then call you and say "We have an officer in the area, but he isn't sure which house it is. Can you tell me if he is in front of the house or where he needs to go?" If you chose to not give your name when you call, then in this instance, the officer will not be able to do anything about your complaint, because I am not going to call someone back without knowing a name. I wouldn't call and say "This is 911, and someone from there just called in a complaint about the tan house down from the corner of main and anywhere and our officer cant figure out which house it is." If the person calling is fearful enough to not want to leave their name, why would I indicate to anyone other than the original caller that someone from that number had just called us? I cant see what is going on in your house. I dont know if maybe that neighbor you are calling to complain about has just knocked on your door to use your phone. Or maybe you have a boyfriend or husband that has told you that he would prefer that you stay out of it. I would never call a number without having the name of the person that called in situations like this. On others, yeah. Barking dogs, parking complaints, stuff like that. But like someone else has already said, when you dial 911 most couties have the ability to pull up your phone number and know where you are calling from. However, if you call on an administrative line, then chances are, it would take some work to get that number. If you are really fearful about retribution from the residents of this home, most counties also have a tip line that you can call or a narcotics team that you could leave the information with. I know that our tip line is a secure line that does NOT have caller id capabilities. You would give your information and not have to give your name. But, you can call 911 and not have to give your information also. All you have to do is say that you do not want to give that informaion. Just remember that we already have the number you are calling from anf the name of the person who has the phone. Most people dont like this, but in all actuality, it really is for the safety of the public. Lets say that you are at home and you hear someone breaking into your house. You can get to the phone, but dont want to say anything because you dont want whoever is coming in to hear you. If you dial 911 and lay the phone down someplace without saying anything, the dispatcher that gets your call will be sending police to make sure you are ok. I am sure though that if this is a nice neighborhood that you live on, you are not the only one that does not like this activity going on. Good luck with it.

Answer 2

Call them from a payphone and don't give your info.  Trust me, saying you want to stay anonymous never works out.

If they go to court, your name will get leaked somewhere.  Sometimes they include this "anonymous information" on a police report they assume will stay within the department, then it becomes part of the case, then it's public record...

Answer 3

You can call from a payphone...but the police will probably not do anything about it.  An anonymous tip is not enough to get a search warrant.  The officers need to say who the tip came from and be able to justify why that person is not lying.  Imagine if the police followed up on every single anonymous tip in the manner that you are asking for...HA!

The police can keep it confidential, but they need to know before anything can be done.

Answer 4

you can call in the problem and the officers *should* only inform the nieghbors that theyve had a complaint from some of the local residents.  they shouldn't give out the information.  if you want to be extra careful, call in your suspicions from a pay phone at a gas station or a cell at starbucks near your house.  the officer will meet you there and take down pertinant information.  if you want, you can inform the officer that you want to remain anonomys to reinforce the fact that you do not want to be harassed by the local wild life.

Answer 5

Say you want to stay anoynomous.  They have to honor that, by law.

Answer 6

Rest assured, your calls to the police will never be annonymous.  They will know who you are or at least who's phone you use.  However, they do not inform potential suspects and other ppl of who called.  It would only be used for court purposes if anything got that far.  And if it did, then you would be considered either a victim or witness, and they have rights to remain a secret.  Although, most neighbors know who call the cops on them and who dont... so, your calls are not annonymous, and your neighors prolly will already know who calls the cops on them on their own.

Answer 7

In Oregon, there is no law that the police must honor your request to remain anonymous.

If the police use your statement to develop probable cause, then they are going to be required to identify you.  For liability, the police can't kick in someones door due to an anonymous tip (they must have a name as their source).

If you're just providing a tip on possible illegal activity in your neighborhood, then they probably can keep you anonymous.  Most police officers will work with you (especially if it's good information) and will try to keep you out of the report.  If the incident goes to court, the judge and/or attorneys may demand your information, which the officer would have to provide (rarely happens).

If you don't give ANY information to the police on who you are, chances are that minimal resources will go towards your complaint.

Based on the information in your question, this activity is not criminal (yet).  So the police will probably want to get some information from you and start monitoring the situation themselves.  I doubt they would put any of your identification into a report (I wouldn't it).   They may need to talk to you later about other activity at this location or updates.

Request extra patrols from the police.  Capture license plates and vehicle information.  Call code enforcement about possible violations.  If the children are having stuff thrown at them, call child services.

Answer 8

You can ask the police not to say who called. They understand why people want to remain anonymous.