|
Law enforcement takes to social media to solve crimes, spread information
Feb 13, 2012 (Merced Sun-Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Merced County law enforcement agencies are continuing to embrace technology as a means to fight crime and provide information to the community.
The latest move comes from the Gustine Police Department, which set up accounts on two social networking websites -- Facebook and Twitter -- in an effort to connect with residents through additional resources.
Those who follow the Facebook page can see news releases and departmental events, according to officer Telan Hosaka, the department's social media administrator.
The Twitter site will provide information on community events and critical incidents, such as missing persons, extended road closures and significant crimes, according to Hosaka.
An increasing number of law enforcement agencies are also starting to use social networking sites not only to provide information, but also to help solve crimes.
Throughout the world, police forces have made arrests with help from the networking sites.
Examples include a man who left his Facebook account open on a woman's home computer after he allegedly burglarized her house, a suspect who was caught by police after he posted his workplace on his MySpace and Facebook accounts and an alleged Sicilian drug dealer that Italian authorities caught by tracking his whereabouts through the photos he posted on Facebook.
Chief Doug Dunford of the Gustine Police Department described social networking sites as a "two-way street" where people can send tips to law enforcement, while the department can keep the public informed about key issues.
The move can also help the law enforcement better connect with younger generations, he said.
"It's funny -- nowadays everybody tweets or texts more than they talk," Dunford said. "This is our way of reaching out to the younger generation and getting that information out there."
Lt. Tom Trindad of the Merced Police Department said the use of social media has spread rapidly across all law enforcement agencies.
Teaching officers how to use social networking websites has become part of many law-enforcement training classes, he noted. Some agencies have even hired consultants to teach about social media and its impact on law enforcement.
"It's a tool," said Trindad, who's been with the department for 25 years. "It's no mystery that law enforcement has used these things to assist in investigations from confessions all the way to their whereabouts or what they were doing or what their intentions are. This generation has no problem putting themselves out there for everybody to see who they are."
Local agencies have put other technologies to use in recent years, such as when the Merced Police Department signed onto crimemapping.com -- a website that allows residents to view calls that officers have responded to throughout the city.
Atwater uses a similar service with crimereports.com.
Many departments also have numbers where tips can be sent anonymously via text message.
Much like the transition from phone booths to pagers to cell phones, Gustine's use of social networking sites is another step in the evolution of law enforcement.
However, the site isn't monitored 24/7, so residents with information about breaking crimes should still contact the department's non-emergency dispatch at (209) 854-1010. For emergencies, dial 911.
Reporter Mike North can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or mnorth@mercedsunstar.com.
___ (c)2012 the Merced Sun-Star (Merced, Calif.) Visit the Merced Sun-Star
(Merced, Calif.) at www.mercedsunstar.com Distributed by MCT Information
Services
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
|
TMCnet LOGIN
Webinars
