You can find all kinds of people on Facebook. Now, Virginia State Police are hoping to use the popular social networking site to find criminals.
The agency has launched its own Facebook page. The aim is to get people who become state police fans to help police solve crimes, track down fugitives and find missing people, according to a report in the Associated Press.
Police put the new site up on Monday, and already there are thousands of fans. Superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty said incorporating social media into communications and outreach efforts is a natural progression for the agency. It’s a progression that could help police crack a lot of unsolved cases.
The first unsolved case featured on the new Facebook page is the 1996 abduction and murder of 25-year-old Alicia Showalter Reynolds in Culpeper County.
In addition to information about unsolved cases, the Virginia State Police page includes news releases and traffic safety tips.
