Elkhart County Sheriff's Department uses Facebook to catch criminals

Tools

By Jenny Dolph

Story Created: Feb 21, 2012 at 6:44 PM EDT

Story Updated: Feb 22, 2012 at 11:34 AM EDT

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- This week, the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department cleaned house with a warrant blitz!

Get this -- they used Facebook to catch some of the criminals!

Police simply posted their pictures on their Facebook wall and let the tips roll in!

Officers used to have to search through address records, or check with old employers.

But now, the undersheriff said that Facebook not only helps police, it is a great way to keep the community informed!

"You know social media… people like to get on there. We have kind of changed gears. Rather than it being a PR tool, we are using it to try and reach out to the community to have them provide information and feedback to us,” said Undersheriff Sean Holmes of the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department.

If you think Facebook is too public, the Undersheriff said you can also call their anonymous tip line, or submit an anonymous report online.
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