NL police use Facebook to solve crimes

In March, the New London Police Department turned to the Internet and the community to help solve crimes.

It was at that time that the department created a Facebook page to get information out to the community as fast as possible about area crimes.

"We were trying to think of a way we could get more information out to the public," New London Chief of Police, Jeffrey Schlueter said. "Our officers are good at what they do, but sometimes when we are looking at facial recognitions, we get people who are not from New London that we don't recognize.

"The technology nowadays, we started talking about Facebook and there are a lot of other departments that have gone to it. We just felt that that was an easy way to start expanding. We have people who have 'Liked' us from New London, to other states now."

Chief Schlueter said whenever the department needs assistance in trying to identify someone, it will put videos, photos and other information available on the Facebook page in an effort to get tips on the identity of the person.

"We had the Familiar Grounds burglary solved for us by tips coming in," Chief Schlueter said. "The Kwik Trip theft where the person went in and took the donation canister right off the counter and walked out, somebody identified her through Facebook. We didn't know who that person was even though we had a picture of her."

As of Monday, Aug. 20, 417 people had "Liked" the New London Police Department's Facebook page. Those who have "Liked" the page, receive instant notifications whenever something is posted on the page.

The page averages 1,400 views each day. That number spiked the week of May 21 when there were 9,657 page views in conjunction with the Familiar Grounds burglary. There were a total of 6,761 page views the week of June 24 in conjunction with the Kwik Trip theft.

"When we have a press release we put it out there so people know what's going on," Chief Schlueter said. "They can help us solve something. If we have a hit and run for example and we are looking for a white Dodge truck with frontend damage, it helps to have 7,000 eyes in the City of New London over 16 eyes.

"It's our way of trying to expand our department to increase our productivity along with hopefully becoming a deterrent at the same time, by letting people know that they can't get away with this in New London because it's not just the police department anymore, it's the whole community watching us."

The department's Facebook page is also used to promote upcoming events, list lost and found items, list press releases and to get the community involved with the New London Police Department. Residents can ask questions about things they are uncertain of, and the department will either respond back directly, or through a post on the Facebook page.

For example, when there were questions about the burning ban, residents we able to ask about that on the Facebook page.

So far, Chief Schlueter said the use of the Facebook page has been successful, especially in identifying people who are not from New London.

"We want to continue to inform people of what is going on at the police department," Chief Schlueter said. "Also to have them have the ability to ask us questions, while at the same time allowing us to inform them what's going on. I think it's a way for both of us to work together. As a team we can achieve a lot more than we can as individuals. The way I look at this is essentially we are all on the same team at that point. None of us want the crime to happen. None of us want to be a victim. By having all these eyes out there it gives us the opportunity to go out there and make New London a safer place than it is already."