By JOHN O’CONNOR

AP Political Writer

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – People who see government corruption in Illinois now have a number they can call to alert federal officials anonymously.

Rodger Heaton, U.S. attorney for the central district of Illinois, on Wednesday announced the tip line as part of a task force of law enforcement agencies to pool resources against public skullduggery.

“It’s not enough to complain at the coffee shop or to express your disapproval over dinner to your friends,” Heaton said at a news conference. “If you know or strongly suspect that corrupt conduct is occurring in a government office, you have a civic duty to share what you know so that we can do something about it.”

The toll-free tip line is 1-877-U-TIP-OFF.

Heaton was joined by representatives of the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service, Illinois secretary of state’s inspector general and the Illinois State Police.

In a state with a storied history of government mischief – including a past governor convicted of racketeering and a current governor under federal scrutiny on multiple fronts – Heaton said he wanted to bring agencies “into the same office” to more effectively combat wrongdoing.

Public corruption is the FBI’s top priority behind only terrorism, espionage and computer crimes. But Janice Fields, assistant agent in charge for the FBI’s Springfield office, would not single out Illinois among states as corruption king.

Federal prosecutors in Illinois won a conviction last year of former Gov. George Ryan, who is appealing his 6«-year prison sentence. They are investigating hiring practices and fundraising activities of current Gov. Rod Blagojevich and have convicted Chicago city officials in a hiring scandal.

The tip line will be answered from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. on work days. If no one answers, the caller will be asked to leave a contact number or the complaint on voice mail.

No caller will be required to identify himself, Fields said.

Jim Burns, inspector general for Secretary of State Jesse White, said his office receives fewer and fewer anonymous tips as it builds credibility.

“We might get inundated early with anonymous complaints that don’t amount to a hill of beans, but we will look at all of them,” Burns said. “As it moves forward, over time, good sources will be developed and better cases will be developed.”

Heaton said he spoke to other agencies about the group, including Illinois Executive Inspector General James Wright, but would not comment on whether they were members of the task force.

Spokesman Gilbert Jimenez said Wright’s office is not a member but is willing to lend a hand.

“There’s no reluctance on our part,” Jimenez said, but declined further comment.

Burns pointed out Wright and other state inspectors general operate under a different law that precludes them from accepting anonymous tips.