The anonymous police tip is going digital.

The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office introduced its newest tool Tuesday in the ongoing effort to heighten local residents’ access to law enforcement, announcing it can now receive text-based anonymous crime tips via the third-party Nixle texting service.

Using the service, anyone can discreetly send the sheriff’s office an anonymous tip of suspected criminal activity, either via text message or online at https://local.nixle.com/tip/cullman-county-sheriffs-office/.

Using the third-party service, which does not share informants’ identifying data with law enforcement, requires an initial sign-up. After that, a Nixle user can either text suspicious activity directly to the sheriff’s office, or alert law enforcement by filling out an online form. The form, as well as additional information, can be accessed via the sheriff’s office website at www.cullmansheriff.org.

Unlike phone-based crime tips, which sheriff Matt Gentry said the sheriff’s office doesn’t get a lot of in a smart phone-dependent world, Nixle allows tipsters to submit photos that can help describe suspicious activity.

“If you’re out in the community and you know someone is doing something illegal at a certain location, or you believe you’re looking at property that’s been stolen, you can take a picture of that and text it to us,” he said.

“For a lot of people now, it’s very easy to send a text message and to rely on that info flow. People — especially young people — don’t use the phone anymore, but they do text, and this allows us to have that line of communication with people who already are comfortable with texting. You can remain completely anonymous, and Nixle even gives you a way to maintain further communication, anonymously, with law enforcement once you report a suspicious activity.”

The service is free to use, and expands on the Nixle mobile alerting system the sheriff’s office already has been using to send out weather, traffic, and emergency information for anyone who subscribes.

Just as with phone-based tipping, reporting a suspected crime via text message must be done in good faith, and it’s illegal to knowingly report false information. And, Gentry reminded, the service isn’t designed to replace an old-fashioned 911 phone call if you need to report an emerging and urgent situation.

“This is a tip line; not an emergency line — so if you’re facing an active situation, call 911,” he said. “The goal of this service is to give our residents a more accessible and convenient way to connect with law enforcement, and to strengthen the ties between law enforcement and our community.”

For more information, visit the sheriff’s office web page at www.cullmansheriff.org.