police.boston.gov

You can submit an anonymous tip to the Boston Police Department (BPD) in three ways: call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-494-TIPS (8477), text the word TIP to CRIME (27463), or use the BPD app to send a tip that can include photos or videos. All three are described by the department as anonymous channels. If you send a text or use the app, standard message and data rates may apply, and the department points to terms and privacy terms that govern those channels.

The Three Anonymous Tip Channels

The BPD site presents the app as a newer option specifically for anonymous tips that include photos or videos. The text line is the simplest option if you only have written information and no attachment.

How to Send a Tip, Step by Step

By text message

1. Open your phone's messaging app.
2. Start a new message to the short code 27463.
3. Type TIP and send it.
4. Follow the prompts to provide your information.

Expected result: your tip is routed through the CrimeStoppers text channel. Because the department notes that message and data rates may apply, check your mobile plan if cost is a concern.

Through the BPD app

1. Download the BPD app using the link on the department's website.
2. Open the app and choose the tip submission option.
3. Enter your information and attach any photos or videos you have.
4. Submit the tip.

Expected result: your tip, including any media, is sent to the department through the app. The site states that terms and conditions and a privacy policy apply to this channel, so review them in the app if you want to understand how your submission is handled.

By phone

1. Dial 1-800-494-TIPS (8477).
2. Provide the information you have about the crime or individual.

Expected result: you speak with the CrimeStoppers line. This is the best fit if you prefer not to type and do not need to send images.

What to Have Ready Before You Submit

• What happened or who is involved. For a Most Wanted case, the department asks the public to share information about an individual's identity or whereabouts.
• Where and when. Specific location and time details make a tip more useful.
• Any media. Photos or videos can only be attached through the app, not the text line or phone call.
• A way to describe what you saw without identifying yourself. The point of these channels is that you do not need to give your name.

Common Questions and Points to Watch

Is the tip really anonymous? The department labels these channels as anonymous tip options and separately notes that witnesses and community members can reach the Homicide Unit anonymously. The site does not publish a detailed explanation of how each channel strips identifying data, so if anonymity is critical to you, the phone line and text line avoid attaching media and account details that an app might collect.

Can I send photos or video? Only through the BPD app. The text line and phone line are for written or spoken information.

Will it cost me anything? The site does not charge for tips, but it warns that message and data rates may apply for texting and app use. Those are carrier charges, not department fees.

What if I want to report something that isn't a tip? The site separates tip channels from other functions: public records requests go through the department's records process, media requests go in writing to [email protected], and public safety alerts and news appear in the BPDnews feed. Use the tip channels for information about crimes or wanted individuals, not for records or press inquiries.

What happens after I submit? The site does not describe a follow-up process for tipsters, which is consistent with anonymous reporting. Do not expect a case update through these channels.

Where This Fits in the Department's Mission

The BPD frames its work around community policing: "working in partnership with the community to fight crime, reduce fear and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods." Anonymous tip lines are one practical expression of that partnership — they let people share what they know about a crime or a wanted person without stepping forward publicly. The Homicide Unit page makes the same point directly: witness, family, and community information is its greatest resource in solving cases, and people can always reach out anonymously.

You can start a public records request through the Boston Police Department's website at police.boston.gov, which links to a dedicated "Public Records Request" page for submitting requests to the department. Members of the media have a separate path: the site directs media to request records in writing at [email protected]. The site does not publish the specific form fields, response timelines, or fees, so treat the website's Public Records Request link as your starting point and follow the instructions provided there.

Public Records Requests Through the Website

The BPD homepage lists "Public Records Request" as a standalone resource with the description "Make a public records request to the Boston Police Department." That is the official entry point for records requests from the general public.

What to expect when you use it

• Input: Your request describing the records you want, submitted through the Public Records Request page linked from the homepage.
• Action: The department processes the request under the applicable public records rules.
• Expected result: The department responds according to its records process. Because the site does not state timelines or fees, check the request page itself for any instructions before submitting.

Practical tips for a smoother request

1. Be specific about the record, not the topic. Identify the document type, incident or case reference, and a date range where you have one. A request for "all records about an incident" is harder to process than a request for a named report covering a defined period.
2. Use the official channel. Submit through the Public Records Request link on police.boston.gov rather than informal email addresses, so your request is logged as a records request.
3. Keep a copy of what you sent. Save your submitted request text and any confirmation you receive.

Media Requests: A Separate Written Channel

The site gives members of the media a distinct instruction: "Please request records in writing at: [email protected]." If you are requesting records in a media capacity, use that written channel rather than the general public records route.

What to include in a media records request

• Your name, outlet, and contact details.
• The specific records sought, with identifying details such as incident date, location, or report number.
• The format you need (for example, electronic copies) and any deadline tied to your reporting.

The site does not describe response times for media requests, so plan around the possibility that a response may take time and follow up in writing if needed.

What Kinds of Records You Can Ask For

The site does not publish a list of requestable record types. In practice, a police department holds records such as incident and offense reports, arrest information, internal correspondence, and policy documents, and public records law generally governs which of these are disclosable. The department's own pages point to related public-facing resources that can help you frame a request:

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Sending a records request to the tip line. CrimeStoppers and the anonymous tip app are for crime information, not public records.
• Assuming the Data Hub replaces a request. The dashboards offer aggregate statistics; a request for a specific report or document still goes through the Public Records Request process.
• Leaving out identifying details. Without a date, location, or report number, the department may be unable to locate the record you want.
• Using the media email for a personal request. The MediaRelations address is described on the site as the route for members of the media; the general public should use the Public Records Request link.

Quick Reference

• General public: Start at police.boston.gov and follow the "Public Records Request" link.
• Media: Submit your request in writing to [email protected].
• Before you request: Check the Data & Transparency Hub and BPDnews for information that may already be public.
• Not for records: CrimeStoppers tips (1-800-494-TIPS; text "TIP" to 27463).

The Boston Police Department publishes crime statistics and accountability information through its Data & Transparency Hub, linked from the police.boston.gov homepage. The hub's dashboards are the department's stated source for the latest crime stats, and the site describes transparency and accountability as central to building trust in the communities it serves. Use the hub when you want current figures; use the separate BPDnews feed when you want public safety alerts, missing persons notices, and updates on investigations and arrests.

What the Data & Transparency Hub Offers

According to the department's own description on police.boston.gov, the Data Hub provides dashboards with the latest crime statistics. The site frames this as part of its accountability commitment to the public. The homepage does not list every dataset or dashboard by name, so treat the hub itself as the entry point and review what is available there rather than assuming a specific report exists.

How to reach it

1. Go to police.boston.gov.
2. Locate the Data & Transparency Hub section on the homepage.
3. Open the hub and select the dashboard covering the crime category or time period you need.
4. Note the reporting period shown on each dashboard, since figures are only as current as the dashboard's last update.

Expected result: you land on a dashboard view of crime statistics rather than a static annual report. If a dashboard does not cover the category you need, the site's public records route (below) is the alternative.

Statistics vs. News vs. Records

These three channels on the site serve different purposes, and choosing the right one saves time:

The BPDnews feed is described as "news you can use," including alerts and case updates. It is not a statistics source, so do not rely on individual news posts to build a picture of crime trends.

Requesting Records the Hub Doesn't Publish

If the dashboards don't contain the specific data you need, the department accepts public records requests. Members of the media are asked to submit requests in writing to [email protected]. The homepage does not spell out the full process or response timeline for non-media requesters, so confirm the current procedure through the Public Records Request link on the site before submitting.

Reporting Information Anonymously

The site also promotes CrimeStoppers at 1-800-494-TIPS (8477) and anonymous tips by text — text "TIP" to CRIME (27463), with message and data rates possibly applying. The department's app accepts anonymous tips that include photos or videos. These channels are for sharing information about crimes, not for requesting data, but they are part of the same public-safety ecosystem the Data Hub supports.

A Practical Check Before You Cite a Number

Crime statistics are revised as investigations proceed, and dashboards can lag behind real-world events. Before quoting a figure, confirm the dashboard's reporting period and whether it is labeled preliminary or final. For context on a specific incident, cross-check the BPDnews feed; for the underlying dataset, return to the Data & Transparency Hub.

police.boston.gov is the official website of the Boston Police Department (BPD). It is an informational and service portal, not an emergency channel: it publishes public safety news, crime data, records-request instructions, wanted-person listings, and ways to send anonymous tips. Use it to find information or start a non-urgent request; for an emergency, call 911 rather than relying on the site.

What the site is for

The department describes its mission as community policing: "working in partnership with the community to fight crime, reduce fear and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods," according to a statement from Police Commissioner Michael Cox quoted on the homepage. The site reflects that mission by combining public information with channels for residents to contribute information.

The homepage also carries a notice that the site is new and still being expanded, so some features may be incomplete or change.

Main services available

How to send an anonymous tip

The site offers several tip channels, all intended for non-emergency use:

• CrimeStoppers: call 1-800-494-TIPS (8477).
• Text: send "TIP" to CRIME (27463). The site notes that message and data rates may apply and points to terms and privacy policy information.
• Mobile app: download the BPD app to send anonymous tips that can include photos or videos.

Anonymous tips are most useful when they include specific, checkable details — for example, a location, time, description of a person or vehicle, or a photo. The site does not promise a response to every tip, so treat these channels as a way to pass information along, not as a way to get immediate help.

When to use the site — and when not to

Use police.boston.gov when you want to:

• Check official news or public safety alerts.
• Look up crime statistics in the Data Hub.
• File or prepare a public records request.
• Send information about a wanted person or an open investigation.
• Find recruitment or taxi-regulation information.

Do not use the site for emergencies or crimes in progress. The homepage channels are for information and tips; call 911 for immediate danger.

Practical notes

• Records requests: media requests must be in writing at [email protected]. Other requesters should follow the public records process linked on the site.
• Tip privacy: the text-tip line states that message and data rates may apply and references terms and a privacy policy; review those before sending sensitive information.
• Site status: the department says the site is still being improved, so if a page or feature looks unfinished, check back or use the contact channels listed.

The Boston Police Department (BPD) regulates all taxis, sight-seeing automobiles, horse-drawn carriages, and pedi-cabs in the City of Boston. On police.boston.gov, this function is presented through a dedicated Hackney/Taxi section, which the site describes as covering "all Taxis, Sight-seeing Automobiles, Horse and Carriages, and Pedi-cabs in the City of Boston," with a "Click here for more..." link to the detailed information.

What the BPD Hackney/Taxi Unit Covers

The site groups four vehicle types under BPD oversight:

The term "hackney" is the traditional label for a for-hire passenger vehicle, which is why the section is titled "Hackney / Taxi."

Where to Find the Details

The homepage entry for Hackney/Taxi is a gateway rather than the full rulebook. To go further:

1. Open police.boston.gov.
2. Locate the Hackney / Taxi block on the homepage.
3. Select the "Click here for more..." link to reach the dedicated page.

The site does not publish licensing fees, application forms, or vehicle requirements directly on the homepage, so the linked section is the place to check for current specifics. Because the department notes it is still adding features to its new website, confirm any requirement on the linked page rather than relying on the summary text.

City of Boston Licensing Context

BPD's role here is regulatory oversight of for-hire vehicles operating in Boston. The site frames this within the department's broader mission of community policing and quality of life in the city's neighborhoods. For licensing status, complaints, or eligibility questions, use the Hackney/Taxi section as the starting point and follow the contact routes listed there.

Related BPD Resources

If your question is adjacent to vehicle regulation, the same site offers:

• Public Records Request – request BPD records, with media requests submitted in writing to [email protected].
• Data & Transparency Hub – dashboards with the latest crime statistics.
• CrimeStoppers – 1-800-494-TIPS (8477), or text "TIP" to CRIME (27463); message and data rates may apply.
• BPDnews Feed – public safety alerts and department updates.

For taxi and for-hire vehicle regulation specifically, start with the Hackney/Taxi section on police.boston.gov and use its "more" link for the operative rules and contacts.