The Littleton (Colo.) Police Department is the first law enforcement agency in Colorado to deploy ping4alerts!, an app that instantly notifies subscribers of dangers and emergencies. 

Citizens can download the free app on their Apple or Android smartphones to be alerted to natural disasters, dangerous weather, missing persons, traffic situations, and local crimes in progress. The app is not available on Blackberry or Windows phones yet but plans are underway for a release in the near future.

"We are pleased to be among the first public safety agencies in the country to offer this important and meaningful smartphone application," said LPD Chief Heather Coogan. "It integrates easily with our existing technology and greatly increases our ability to reach people quickly," Coogan said.

Using ping4alerts!, LPD can broadcast an alert to a specifically-defined location in the LPD's jurisdiction. All ping4alerts! subscribers who are in, or traveling through that location, will receive an alert via an audio or customized voice message and pop-up text with links to further instructions, directions, photographs, videos, etc.

Ping4alerts! awakens phones that are in sleep mode. It also has an "A-Tip" feature that allows users to deliver anonymous tips to law enforcement. The app works over GPS and cellular networks as well as in Wi-Fi hotspots and doesn't tap data plan minutes or place undue strain on smartphone batteries.

Ping4alerts! is a product of Ping4 Inc., a New Hampshire-based public safety alert company.

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N.H. Department Deploys Notification App