police social media pkg

nicholasville ky

Often police solving crimes based on your help from social media.

...but recently, officers say it's been slowing them down.

Abc 36's alexus larson reports that's because people are submitting a crime report to facebook...instead of police.

Many police departments tell us... when we see something... say something.

People are doing that... but it's not a call to the police department.

Instead... it's posted to social media.

"facebook is a great tool to use, it's great.

But sometimes it can create chaos among our community."

Sgt.

Kevin grimes says he's seeing that chaos now about a possible crime in nicholasville.

Two weeks ago - the department got a call about a white truck trying to give a young girl a ride to school from her bus stop near the garden park area.

Grimes says the driver told her he likes giving young girls...a ride.

It was posted on facebook too...and since then...more posts.

"we started seeing other posts of white trucks in the neighborhood and pictures on our facebook page."

Posts about the bell place area and another from city/county park.

The problem?

Instead of getting a call and being able to respond immediately... officers are seeing it on facebook... sometimes hours later.

"a lot of times it makes us play catch up."

"sgt.

Grimes says social media is a tool but if you see something happening the best thing to do is to call them."

"people are forgetting they need to call the police first."

Sgt.

Grimes says even if it turns out to be nothing... still call.

"we would much rather show up and it be nothing, totally innocent or misunderstood than to not show up at all and have missed out on a crime."

Reporting in nicholasville, alexus larson, abc36 news.

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