How Social Media Helps Law Enforcement
Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest: For police departments social media is as valuable, if not more valuable, a resources than it is for traditional brands and businesses. This provides a platform police officers to share information quickly and respond to tips from people, and sometimes people are going to come forward about things they know over social media rather than in person. In 2013, they conducted a survey law enforcements use of social media.
- 95.9 % of agencies surveyed they they use social media in some capacity
- The most common use of social media is for criminal investigations at 86.1%
- 80.4 % of agencies report that social media has helped solve crimes in their jurisdiction
- 73.1% of agencies state that social media has improved police-community relations in their jurisdiction
Facebook for example is just one of many ways law enforcement officials are gleaning evidence from social media to help them solve crimes. The police will sometimes create fake online identities to befriend suspects and view their private information.
From taunting police on social media to sharing crimes in real-time, people aren't exactly hiding behind black masks in dark alleys anymore. They're posting and sharing illegal activities all over the internet, sometimes before, during, and after the crime is committed.
A Florida teen was arrested on 142 felony charges after authorities found selfies of the man holding wads of cash, guns, and drugs. They found $250,000 worth of stolen jewelry, electronics, and firearms.
In 2016, a woman live-streamed drinking at several bars, got behind the wheel, and even told the viewers of her livestream "lets see if I can get a DUI." The people who were watching called 911 immediately. She failed a sobriety test and then refused to take a breath test.
In 2017, two Georgia teems were arrested after they shared video clips of themselves vandalizing a high school, several restaurants, and even jumping on a police car. The snapchat videos then showed them spraying customers on a patio of the local restaurant with the fire extinguishers that they stole from their high school. They were jailed with a $60,000 bond.
Sometimes when police stations post "wanted" posts on Facebook, they really do not plan on the the person they are looking for to actually turn themselves in. Well, it happened in Richland, Washington. Police issued a wanted request for Anthony Akers, 38, for Failure to Comply.
The trend with law enforcement using social media sites to help investigations and criminal activity. I think it is smart on their part to have social media to help find people. I know whenever a child goes missing, it will have thousands of shares within hours to find the child. In a time where social media is prominent, law enforcement agencies across the country should get into having all forms of social media.
