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Hubbard city police add technology to their arsenal
Hubbard
The Hubbard city police allege that for more than a year, Dannetta Goodwin embezzled $3,923 from her employer, Braydich Dentistry.
When the employer discovered that money was missing, he contacted the police.
“We know she’s still in the area,” said city Police Chief James Taafe. “She just renewed her license.”
He said Warren police have gone to her address two times and have yet to make contact with her.
So the police have turned to the modern-day version of placing a wanted poster in the post office — social media.
About a month ago, the city joined other law-enforcement agencies in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys using both Facebook and Twitter to connect with the community.
“She was a very nice person,” Taafe said of Goodwin, adding that he was surprised after hearing of the embezzlement allegations. “People know her.”
And he’s hoping this recognition will lead to her arrest.
Found on both their Facebook and Twitter feed is a photograph of Goodwin with a brief description of what she is wanted for and the phone number for the police station if she is seen. Her face joins a surveillance camera shot of a man accused of stealing a woman’s purse and using her credit cards and another man wanted for shoplifting.
Both Taafe and city Safety Director Lou Carsone have said the community has responded well.
“The public seems to like both of these projects,” Carsone said to city council during its Feb. 6 meeting.
And residents’ comments left on the Facebook page act as testimony to that.
“Nice!” wrote Facebook user Sandy Banjak Kerr.
Police also have posted snow emergencies, alerts on possible child predators and job openings at the police force.
As of this week, the Facebook page has 346 likes and the Twitter page has 62 followers.
But 25 percent of Hubbard’s population is older than 62, according to the U.S. Census, an age where Twitter and Facebook use is not common. Taafe hopes this will change.
The police chief said he hopes that with the tweets and Facebook posts coming from a trusted source, senior citizens will feel comfortable using the social-media sites.