The Jones County Sheriff’s Office announced another tool in its effort for an open line of communication with the public with a smartphone app that provides an abundance of information and community resources.
Sheriff Butch Reece made the announcement about the app on the department’s Facebook page July 29. The free app is now available for download. In his announcement, Reece said the purpose of the app is to “make the community of Jones County even tighter.”
The sheriff said the app has several features he believes will benefit both law enforcement and the general public.
He said one such feature is the ability to submit tips to the sheriff’s office and remain completely anonymous. There is a public feedback feature as well as information about those incarcerated within the Jones County Jail and instructions for visitation and use of the commissary.
The sheriff’s department Facebook page will continue to be available, and its website is being updated.
Chief Deputy Earl Humphries said he saw another department’s app last year and thought it would be a better way to bring the community closer together.
“It makes it easier to submit a tip or report a crime,” he said.
The chief said at the second meeting with the company designing the app, Reece laid out what he wanted the app to do.
Humphries said COVID slowed the process.
“We also determined our website was outdated. It’s expected to be done next month,” he said.
The chief said people communicate a lot more by text messages.
“People always have a smartphone in their hands. We decided to make the best of it.”
He said the goal is to take away the division between the community and law enforcement.
JCSO Investigator and Public Information Officer Crystal Murphy said she was brought in to help with the organization of the information on the app and what needed to be included.
“We’ve been working on it for almost a year. There were certain things like how to submit tips we knew would be most beneficial,” she said.
Murphy said the inmate information will be regularly updated, and people can access information about bonds and commissary accounts.
“The goal is for it to be a one-stop shop for information,” she said.
The app has information how to sign up for CRASE classes (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events) for organizations and churches. The officer said there is a most wanted section, and anyone with the app can receive push notifications. Murphy said the notifications appear like texts and can let the public know about missing persons and information such as areas to avoid because of accidents.
“We want to get as much information out to as many people as possible,” she said.
As an investigator, Murphy was interested in the ability for people to easily submit tips to law enforcement.
“The app went live Friday morning, and by Friday afternoon we received our first tip,” she said.
In addition to the law enforcement information, the app includes a community outreach section and community resources.
Those resources include contact information for the Crisis Line and Safe House, DFCS, suicide hotline, probation, DA’s office and public defender, county offices and many more.
