Police leverage social media

Crime fighters connect with community, solve local cases

Local law enforcement agencies have gradually started to incorporate social media as a means to get information out to the community, and solve crimes.

Avon police Capt. Larry Fischbach said social media has been a good way for the Police Department to communicate with the community.

“It’s a great way to get the word out,” Fischbach said. “We like to use it to tell folks about certain road construction that is going on or areas they can park during a football game.”

Social media also is used occasionally to help police solve crimes, he said.

“We will put a notice out with a photo of someone that might have robbed a store,” Fischbach said. “It’s a great way to get that information out and see if it helps.”

Fischbach said the Police Department started a Facebook page and Twitter handle to get out announcements.

“People are always on social media, so we knew that was an area we want to have a presence,” he said. “We get a lot of traffic on the post about lost pets and when they are found.

“You really get a lot of community interaction for those; it’s crazy. Social media has been very effective in getting the message out.”

Follow the Avon Police Department at www.facebook.com/AvonOH and @ AvonOHPolice on Twitter.

Amherst police Lt. Dan Makruski said his Police Department is working on more Facebook integration.

“We have used Facebook to announce different events,” Makruski said. “We had a Cram-A-Cruiser event recently and Facebook was good for getting the word out.”

Social media also has also used to solve crimes, he said.

“When we have a theft, we like to use social media for assistance,” Makruski said. “We post a picture or video and see if anyone has seen or knows a person we are searching for.

“We do get really good responses when using social media; the community has been very receptive to it, so we will try to use Facebook and Twitter more.”

The Amherst Police Department can be followed at https://www.facebook.com/AmherstPoliceDepartment/ and @amherstpolice on Twitter.

Elyria police Lt. James Welsh said social media definitely is a tool Elyria police uses.

“For sure, we use it a lot,” Welsh said. “We utilize the surveillance from various theft offenses.

“We have more cameras than ever that capture the crimes as they happen. We then take the video or photo to social media for the public to assist.”

Social media also helps with finding missing persons, Welsh said.

“We have juveniles that runaway and general folks that have gone missing,” he said. “Social media is perfect for these moments.

“We get a lot of folks that say they know a person and are willing to respond to a post or call the Department. It’s something that folks are always checking, so we will continue to do it.”

Follow the Elyria Police Department at https://www.facebook.com/elyriapolice/ and @ ElyriaPolice on Twitter.

Westlake police Capt. Gerald Vogel said his Police Department recently added a Facebook page.

“It’s something that we added a little over a month ago, and we have gotten a great response,” Vogel said. “It really is the best way to spread the word, and our community has really responded to it.

“We put a variety of things on there including some educational things, general information and criminal identification help. It’s really stuff we want the public to know.

“We were a little late to the Facebook party, but it was something that has really been a great tool for us.”