Police Department News

The Montgomery County department of Police is launching 3 new on line programs to assist our community to obtain police information or provide it, on a 24/7 basis:

VARPS (Vehicle Accident Report Purchasing System)

The department has begun a program called Vehicle Accident Report Purchase System (VARPS). This allows the public to go on line to request and pay for a copy of accident reports. The cost is still $10. Refer to the internet web site below.

The VARPS enables users to quickly find and purchase non-fatal vehicle accident reports without an associated incident (i.e. DUI) online. The online application allows users to search non-fatal vehicle accident reports without incidents by accident report number (CR#). An accident report or CR# is typically given to the driver(s) or to the pedestrians involved in the accident by a Montgomery County Police officer. If they do not have the CR# they can call 240-773-5330 and that information will be provided to them.

Vehicle accident reports are typically published online within 5 to 7 business days after an accident has occurred. By going to the following website, users can buy their accident report: http://montgomerycountymd.gov/accidentreports.

Police accident reports involving fatalities and/or associated incidents can be purchased at the Montgomery County Police Headquarters. However, it is recommended that the public contact Police Headquarters prior to coming to make sure that the fatal or incident related accident report is available for purchase.

Online Reporting

The second online tool will soon allow citizens to file a police report online through a new system called Coplogic. You will be able to access the Coplogic program through the police website, www.montgomerycountymd.gov/police. Click on “Citizen Online Police Reporting.” By filing a police report online, citizens will not have to wait for an officer to respond and will automatically be sent their police report as an e-mail. The new program can only be used to report these types of specific incidents that occurred in Montgomery County: vandalisms, identity theft, larcenies, and lost property as well as make tips. Some crimes may require evidence collection, photography, or another investigative procedure which would require an officer to respond to the scene of the crime and are therefore not appropriate for on line reporting. By going to our website users can learn more about this new tool, scheduled to go operational in June 2009.

Text a Tip

The third newly implemented program has two new techniques to provide crime fighting tips to police through the power of e-mail and text messaging. Both are safe and the tipster can maintain anonymity with each message that is sent and received. The system assigns an encrypted alias which fully protects the identities of those providing the valuable information and ensuring secure and anonymous on-going communications. To find out how to submit a crime tip through a web-based e-mail or text messaging system, go to our police website www.montgomerycountymd.gov/police and click on “Crime Tips.”

Crime Solvers of Montgomery County still offers an anonymous phone number 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) that can be called to give tips over the phone. The Montgomery County Police Department also offers an additional anonymous crime tip phone line: 240-773-TIPS (8477), that can be used to give information on various drug and gang activity that occurs in the County.

Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to working with you on additional efforts to improve our services to the community.

Captain Mitch Cunningham, Director Information Support and Analysis Division Montgomery County Department of Police 240-773-5321