The commercial services that provide full Internet access also can make e-mail available. Finally, a nearby university may give the department e-mail capabilities at little or no cost. Whether modest or elaborate, bulletin boards can provide callers with two types of access, limited or full. In general, each depends on whether users identify themselves. When new users call for the first time, they can reveal their identities or remain anonymous.
Some bulletin boards refuse to admit anonymous callers, while others limit access to certain areas.
As its name implies, in the We-Tip area, users can provide information in confidence about crimes or other matters of interest to the police. As a bonus, it allows the police to document the tip. Though not all-inclusive, the dream BBS described in this article should stimulate ideas for other enhancements that police departments can add to their bulletin boards. Inexperienced BBS operators should start small. But with the right computer equipment, a few shareware programs, and a phone line, police departments can create bulletin board systems that allow them to reach out to the citizens they serve.