Police Facebook page helps solve crime

GREENFIELD, Ind. (WISH) - Facebook isn't just for posting status updates anymore. Now police departments nationwide are using the site to solve crime.

Local departments are jumping on this trend too.

Recently, the Greenfield Police Department questioned one woman they were looking for, less than 30 minutes after posting surveillance video on Facebook. The woman was suspected of paying at a local Wal-Mart with two counterfeit $100 bills.

Greenfield Police posted surveillance video and asked the public to identify the woman. One man who lives in Greenfield saw the video and sent police a message telling them he knew who she was.

And police brought her in for questioning.

It turned out she did pay with the fake cash, unknowingly, so no charges were filed.

The detective in this case said the department modeled their page off of one operated by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police.

In fact, this concept is becoming so widespread that the International Association of Chiefs of Police hosts webinars, so departments can learn how best use social media to get leads on crime.

Greenfield Police Department's Facebook page has almost 1,800 fans who can comment directly on the page or anonymously.