The Cole County Sheriff's Department has started to use a new way to fight crime. It's high-tech and right on your smartphone - it's an app called Mobile Patrol.
When law enforcement officers respond to a crime scene, they often end up asking for help from the public to track down a suspect. Now you can help just by using your smartphone.
In the past few weeks, the sheriff's department got connected on the Mobile Patrol app. It allows sheriff's departments to communicate directly with the public by sharing the latest crime reports, arrests warrants, emergency alerts, jail bookings and lists of most wanted persons and sex offenders.
The app also allows the public to report crime directly to the sheriff's department. Users can tell deputies where crime is happening and offender sightings.
Mobile Patrol is free for users to download and also free for sheriff's departments to use.
To download the app, go to iTunes or Google Play and search for "Mobile Patrol." Once downloaded, select the Cole County Sheriff's Office.