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Law enforcement relying on social networking sites

Staff photo by Nick Daggy Oxford police Sgt. Jim Squance holds an iPhone with the Oxford Police Department's Facebook page on it Friday Nov. 20.

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By Tiffany Y. Latta, Staff Writer 9:02 PM Sunday, November 22, 2009

HAMILTON — When Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones closed two area jails, he did so in less than 140 characters – 69 to be exact.

“I will be closing 2 of butler county’s jails this date. Sheriff jones.”

Jones tweeted that message on June 4 and has since announced plans to test explosives and the arrest of one of the county’s most wanted on Twitter.com, a social networking site.

Free social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook are used mostly by people to connect with friends.

But increasingly, law enforcement agencies locally and nationwide are using the sites to notify the public instantly of serious crimes, arrests, accidents, traffic jams, weather emergencies, gas leaks and even water main breaks.

“We use everything we can that’s at our disposal to get information out there,’’ Jones said. “Probably a year from now there may be something different. But the good thing (about Twitter) is you can get information out as soon as you hit the (send) button and it’s uncensored.’’

Twitter is akin to an online bulletin board that allows users to post and receive messages or “tweets’’ of up to 140 characters.

Through Facebook, users can get friend status updates, social timelines, event invitations and share videos and photos.

Middletown and Hamilton police departments have yet to sign up. But both are considering it, though Middletown is concerned about someone hacking into the site, which has happened to Butler County and other agencies.

Still, Oxford Police say Facebook and MySpace is the most effective way to communicate in a college town.

“Students are more apt to pay attention to text messages on their cell phone than our Web site. We’re using every available piece of technology we can find to get our message to them,” said Oxford police Sgt. Jim Squance.

In northern Ohio, Medina police began using Facebook Oct. 24 to post photos of wanted suspects. Within days, the department made its first arrest and has since made more.

“Thirty years ago, we posted wanted fliers at the post office. Today, it’s Facebook ...,” said Medina Chief Patrick Beraducci. “Using Facebook lets the public access wanted photos wherever they happen to be and whenever they want.”

Meredith K. Mays, a spokeswoman with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, said it’s only natural that law enforcement agencies gravitate to social networking sites.

“As technology evolves, people adapt,’’ Mays said. “Law enforcement agencies are constantly looking for new mediums that will aid in the prevention and fighting of crime.”

Law Enforcement on Facebook/Twitter/Nixle

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones: twitter.com/butlersheriff; www.nixle.com

Ohio Highway Patrol: twitter.com/OSHP

Oxford Police Department: www.cityofoxford.org/police and then click the links to the department’s Facebook and Myspace pages; www.nixle.com

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