You can now help local police and the sheriff by sharing information about underage drinking, illegal drug use, or other criminal activity — and remain completely anonymous.

LTip is a cooperative effort by Healthy Lincoln County, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Boothbay Harbor Police Department, Damariscotta Police Department, Waldoboro Police Department, Wiscasset Police Department, and the Lincoln County Communications Center. LTip allows anyone to text or email a secure encrypted tip to police and communicate with them without the tipsters identity being known.

Anyone can send tips by texting to 274637 (CRIMES) or via email using a link at www.healthylincolncounty.org. Simply start your text message by using the code LTip or by placing LTip in the subject line of your email.

“This is a safe way for folks to send information to law enforcement and ensure their identity is protected,” Sheriff Todd Brackett said. “The program works well in other parts of the state and across the country. As we get close to graduation season, I always worry about graduates and others making poor choices that sometimes end in tragedy. LTip can help avoid such a tragedy and heighten public awareness of the dangers of underage drinking.”

Here's how it works: Your tip is sent to a secure server in Canada where all of the identifying information is removed and a four digit code is assigned to the tip: There is no way to identify the tipster. Tips using the code LTip are forwarded to Lincoln County Communication Center and subsequently assigned to the appropriate police agency. Using the assigned number communications personnel and/or the police can text back for more information without the tipster worrying about being identified.

“The LTip program is great example of how our Communications Center works collaboratively with law enforcement and our communities to promote public safety. Our communications staff has already begun fielding tips and passing them on to law enforcement,” said Tod Hartung, director of the Lincoln County Communications Center.