LEONARDTOWN — The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has fully transitioned from the Nixle alert platform to tip411, a new system that combines real-time emergency notifications with anonymous crime-tip submission capabilities. The switch took effect November 12, 2025, when Nixle alerts officially ended.
Current Nixle subscribers did not automatically transfer to the new platform. Residents must re-register to continue receiving verified alerts from the Sheriff’s Office.
The tip411 system allows the agency to push instant notifications about critical incidents, missing persons, road closures, traffic hazards, severe weather impacts, and general community safety updates. Alerts can be delivered via text message, email, or the dedicated SMCSO smartphone app.
Registration options include:
- Visiting www.FirstSheriff.com/tips and creating an account
- Downloading the free “SMCSO” app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
Beyond alerts, tip411 provides multiple channels for anonymous tip submission:
- Text “SMCSO” followed by the message to 847411
- Submit online at www.FirstSheriff.com/tips
- Use the in-app tip feature on the SMCSO app
The platform strips all identifying information before a tip reaches deputies, and officers can conduct two-way anonymous conversations to gather additional details. Traditional phone tips remain available through St. Mary’s County Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333.
“We know the public is one of our greatest law enforcement resources. Together, we can make St. Mary’s County an even safer place to live, work, and visit,” said Sheriff Steve Hall. “tip411 allows us to share verified, timely alerts while giving residents a safe and secure way to help prevent and solve crime.”
The Sheriff’s Office serves a county of approximately 115,000 residents across 357 square miles, including the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and growing communities in Lexington Park, California, and Charlotte Hall. The agency responds to more than 45,000 calls for service annually and relies heavily on public cooperation for investigations ranging from property crimes to narcotics cases.
tip411, used by hundreds of law enforcement agencies nationwide, has processed over 2 million anonymous tips since its launch in 2008. In St. Mary’s County, the system replaces Nixle, which the county had used for more than a decade but lacked integrated two-way anonymous messaging.
The transition aligns with broader public-safety communication upgrades across Southern Maryland. Charles County launched a similar tip411 platform in 2023, and Calvert County maintains its own version under the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office app.
Residents who previously received Nixle alerts for school lockdowns, major crashes on Route 235 or Route 5, Amber Alerts, or coastal flooding warnings will now receive the same information through tip411 once registered. The app also supports push notifications for users who enable location services, delivering hyper-local alerts when incidents occur nearby.
Sheriff’s Office personnel conducted outreach at community meetings in Mechanicsville, Leonardtown, and Great Mills during October and early November to demonstrate the new system. Instructional flyers were distributed at the county government center and public libraries.
The platform is provided at no cost to the county through a partnership with tip411, which funds operations through Crime Solvers reward programs and grants. Tips leading to arrests remain eligible for cash rewards up to $1,000 through the St. Mary’s County Crime Solvers program.