In this day and age it seems almost everyone is using social media in one form or another.
Law enforcement is no exception.
The Pohatcong Township Police Department in Warren County, New Jersey in just one department using Facebook to its advantage.
"Things go viral on the internet all the time so why can't it happen in the interest of public safety?" said Patrolman Alan Hill.
The department posts images and videos of suspects who are wanted in various crimes. Hill said the public has been a big help in identifying people.
"In the past couple months I would say we're at about 50 percent success rate when we post stuff on Facebook," he said.
Facebook users recently helped police identify a woman caught on camera allegedly stealing a TV from Walmart. Pohatcong Township Police said she was identified and charged.
"In large part it's all Facebook's help," said Hill. "We had people within 24 hours letting us know who it was."
Walmart spokesperson Betsy Harden said efforts like this from police are appreciated and the retailer wants to be good partners with law enforcement.
"We appreciate anything they can do to help catch criminals who are shopping in our stores and stealing from our stores," she told 69 News.
The Pohatcong Township Police Department's Facebook Page isn't just for criminal cases.
"If we find dogs we'll post them on Facebook, a lot of success. They get a lot more shares than the shoplifters do," said Hill.
This is just one example of a police department adapting in this age of technology and Hill said it's making a difference.
He said, "Absolutely I believe it's deterring crime. Just the fact that if you do get away with it for the time being that your picture might be on Facebook, absolutely. I wouldn't want mine out there."
from 69News:Home http://ift.tt/1InQkTa
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