Social Media Giving Stockton Police Help Solving Crimes
STOCKTON (CBS13) — Stockton Police are using social media in a unique way with staff dedicated to running four social media sites that help generate crime tips.
Police still have regular shifts on the streets, but they're also patrolling their Facebook page for any clues, tips, or witnesses that can help them solve crimes.
The communication team types, uploads and posts everything from wanted suspects, case updates and even officers doing the whip and the Nae Nae.
It's community engagement and crime fighting from behind a computer or a phone.
"We found it's an enhancement," said Chief Eric Jones. "We're able to reach many more viewers, we're able to communicate with many more people."
And those people are talking back to the police. Officers find they're getting more witnesses and tips coming through social-media sites.
"We get a lot of private messages. We get a lot of tips that way, especially when the person wants to be anonymous. Before people would be nervous to come down to the police station or even telephone things in," he said.
The team reads the private and public messages, forwarding credible information to the detectives. On each social media platform, officers carefully decide what to post and which cases get highlighted.
"People might ask, 'With all your violent crime, why do you post a shoplifter on Facebook?' Well, if they're responsible for massive amounts of shoplifting, terrorizing the community, that is something we want to put out. We want to give shop owners some relief," he said.
The chief says the department will not add every new social media platform to come along. While it recently added Periscope, he says the department will not have a Snapchat.
