Online Posts Seeking Public’s Help Called A ‘Tremendous Asset’

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allegedly spit on by a female in a white bathing suit while another victim was struck by a female in a green bathing suit The images were posted on Facebook seeking the public’s help on Aug 6 at 7:23 p m On Aug 8 at 4:44 p m , the police department thanked the public for the assistance in the identification of all wanted individuals

In yet another case, police used social media on Aug 5 to alert the public about a lost 9-year-old girl who was last seen on the beach in a bathing suit that was shown on the department’s Facebook The post was updated with the picture of the child removed once she was located

Over the course of the summer, there have been multiple other instances when police have used social media to help identify and apprehend wanted individuals

There have been some incidents that have gone unsolved, such as the July situation when multiple suspects were sought in an animal cruelty case involving individuals trespassed and harmed Koi fish in a private pond area

These wanted posts are part of a broader strategy to gain engagement with the public, according to Ocean City Police Department Deputy Communications Manager Ashley Miller, who has led the efforts to improve the department’s social media activity and following this year

“The Ocean City Police Department’s mission is to provide the highest degree of ethical behavior, professional conduct, and quality police services to all residents and visitors To ensure we meet this mission, we have increased our social media presence,” Miller said “Social media has become transfixed in nearly everyone’s life It is one of the fastest ways to reach people and get our message out In 2023, the Ocean City Police Department stepped up our use of social media to ensure we were transparent to our community about our rules and police activity within the community The public assistance posts have been a tremendous asset in bringing closure to various criminal cases from theft to assaults and anything in between When we can close a case, it not only helps our officers, but it brings the individuals and/or the businesses involved some justice ”

Along with identifying wanted individuals, the police department has also used its Facebook page, which has more than 72,000 followers, to alert the public about timely accidents and road closure details

“The Ocean City Police Department is extremely fortunate to have a supportive community We see that support each time we post online,” Miller said “Our residents are sharing it in their neighborhood groups, local pages, and on their accounts One thing that makes Ocean City unique is that we are a tourist destination from far and wide Social media helps us reach those communities Sometimes people forget that rules still apply when they go on vacation The public assistance requests help us spread the word far and wide and we often do get leads from people in the individual’s hometown The same thing happens when we post things about residents of Ocean City Our crime tip line is always busy with people trying to do the right thing to help keep Ocean City the safe community we know and love ”