The Facebook wall on the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office fan page is no longer just a place for announcements and Christmas party pictures.
The ASO public information office began posting links to pictures of people with felony and misdemeanor warrants in Alachua County on its profile page Friday.
The links, which will be updated weekly, are expected to enable Facebook users to provide tips and help officers locate criminals, according to ASO spokesman Art Forgey.
“We’re new to the social media thing,” he said.
The sheriff’s office first created a Facebook profile, a YouTube channel and Twitter account in June and July of 2009.
However, until now the accounts have all been mostly used to post official updates, event notices and event pictures and videos.
The sheriff’s office Facebook page had 440 fans as of 7:30 p.m. Monday.
The use of media and social networking tools by law enforcement agencies is a growing trend, Forgey said, because nearly everyone is online.
“There are so many people on social media sites all the time,” he said. “We’re missing a resource if we don’t use it. You take the info to where the people are.”
Forgey also pointed to the new additions to the Facebook page as another trend in the growing virtual cooperation and communication between local citizens and police as an innovative way to tackle crime.
Because keeping up a Facebook page takes little time and is free to use, it would be worth having even if it yielded only one tip, he added.
Those who wish to browse criminal listings or submit a tip to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office can find the profile by typing “Alachua County Sheriff” in the Facebook page finder.
