Manheim Township's police force wants the community to call it with leads.

On Tuesday, the department implemented a tip line that residents can anonymously use to report crime.

The police department is the only one in the county that uses its own tip line, according to officials. Other departments encourage residents to call their station with information, officials say, but those callers will often speak with a receptionist or officer.

Unlike Lancaster City-County Crime Stoppers, Manheim Township police force's tip line isn't crime specific and offers no reward.

Manheim Township police spokesman Sgt. Tom Rudzinski said that callers will be anonymous, unless they choose to leave their name.

"There is no caller ID, nobody is going to pick up the phone. It doesn't even ring on our end," Rudzinski said.

Police sometimes have difficulty pulling information from residents who must provide their name.

"The only way around that is anonymity," Rudzinski said. "We recognize that people are hesitant to report stuff to us if they have to tell us who they are. They don't want the bad guys to know" they called.

"This way, nobody's going to find out," Rudzinski added. "We don't even know who you are."

The tip line is specifically aimed at stopping drug activity, Rudzinski said, but tipsters' scope shouldn't be limited.

"We are aiming at drug dealers and criminals," Rudzinski said. "Our whole aim is to get the drug dealers and stop the flow of drugs in our community."

Using the tip line is a cinch, officials said.

Tipsters should dial 569-2816 to access the line's voice mail. Police are urging callers to provide as much detail as possible with their tips.

"We make no promises the information will lead to immediate arrests, but we will investigate and look into the information that is on there," he said.

Police hope the line also will build stronger cases against suspected criminals who haven't been charged.

The data "might match with something we already know, and add one more piece to a puzzle we are trying to solve," Rudzinski said.

The tip line is not an emergency phone line. Callers in need of immediate assistance should call 911. Manheim Township residents can reach a live person at the police station by calling 569-6401.

E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com