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Updated: 7:58 AM Mar 4, 2010
State Police Fight Crime Via Facebook
The Valley The Virginia State Police are always looking for new ways to fight crime, and with the popularity of social networking sites, it is only natural that they join in and log on.
Posted: 6:25 PM Mar 3, 2010Reporter: Janelle Lilley Email Address: jlilley@whsv.com |
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3 Comments 
The Virginia State Police are always looking for new ways to fight crime, and with the popularity of social networking sites, it is only natural that they join in and log on.
State police launched their new Facebook page Monday in the hope that the page will provide a closer link to the community.
The Webpage contains the expected traffic safety tips and news releases, but it also features missing persons and fugitives.
"Putting up a Facebook page would give us the opportunity to reach out to some 400 million Facebook users," says Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. Scott VanLear.
Police also hope that those Facebook users will soon become police tipsters.
"The days of picking up an old landline telephone and calling the police [are over]. People are more apt to text a message through a Facebook page," says VanLear.
Many area residents agree.
"Everybody else is [on Facebook], and if can help them do their job even better and catch criminals, then more power to them," says Bryon Demory, a Facebook user and Staunton resident.
Police are already calling the page a success. Less than 48 hours from its launch, the page had more than 3,000 fans.
"Frankly, I'm surprised that there are 3,000 fans already. To me that is just phenomenal," says VanLear.
Latest Comments
Anonymous, All the things that you mention are all traffic violations and must require a Police officer to witness the said violations before a traffice stop can be made. Thats the code of Virginia plain and simple. So lay off the "where is the justice" comments.
I look terrible on TV but stand by what I said.."more power to them"
I would hope that when you call and tell them where a person is headed....driving with no drivers licence.. no car seats with children in the car ..knowing they have no licence and all they say is we have to catch them driving...where is the justice why cant they do somethink what does it take........
