TEWKSBURY – Police Chief Ryan Columbus would like to remind the community that the Tewksbury Police Department uses the CodeRED emergency messaging system, and that residents and business owners can sign up to receive timely emergency messages from the system.
Tewksbury Police have contracted with the Emergency Communications Network to use CodeRED, a high speed emergency notification system.
The CodeRED system provides the Tewksbury Police Department the ability to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire town. Messages sent out from the system can include alerts about crimes or ongoing incidents, or other warnings and notifications deemed important by the Tewksbury Police Department.
Residents and business owners who are interested in receiving such alerts are asked to sign up for the CodeRED system and to register online. Anyone who does not receive messages from the system, which has been used several times recently, are not in the database.
“No one should automatically assume that their phone number or email address are in the database,” said Chief Columbus. “I encourage everyone in the community who is interested in receiving emergency alerts to be sure to sign up for this.”
Individuals and business owners are encouraged to enroll by going to the CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment page.
Residents can also enroll via text message by sending “TPDCodeRED” to 99411. Those without internet or text access may call the Tewksbury Police Department at (978) 640-4380, ext. 214 to submit their information over the phone. Required information includes first and last name, street address, city, state, zip code, and primary phone number. Additional phone numbers and email addresses can be entered as well.
Those individuals who wish to receive text messages should include the name of their mobile provider on the online form or in the message left on ext. 214. Individuals with unlisted phone numbers, those who use a cellular phone or VOIP phone as their primary number, or those who have changed their phone number or address within the past year are also encouraged to register.
CodeRED allows for geographically based delivery, which means street addresses are required to ensure emergency notification calls are received by the proper individuals in a given situation. The system works for cell phones, however an associated street address is needed to provide relevant messages. CodeRED gives those who want to be included an easy and secure method for inputting information. The data collected will only be used for emergency notification purposes.
Additional questions should be directed to the Tewksbury Police Department at (978) 640-4380, ext. 214.