Residents of North Central Ohio have a new way of staying in contact with law enforcement, thanks to a new smartphone app released by the METRICH Enforcement Unit.
The METRICH App is available for both Apple and Android devices, according to a news release provided by Keith Porch, chief of the Mansfield Police Department.
The application was designed to provide useful information to the public such as drug education, addiction resources and helpful links.
Porch said the app cost $15,000, which was paid for by the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services through grant funds.
Users will be able to view press releases and calendar events which are tailored to the specific counties within the METRICH region.
Those who interact with the app will also be able to submit direct tips to METRICH detectives while remaining anonymous.
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It is believed that the METRICH Enforcement Unit App is the first of its kind to be used by a drug taskforce within the state of Ohio.
“We hope citizens within the METRICH region will take full advantage of this new platform,” the press release reads. “Together we can reduce the availability of drugs that enter our community on a daily basis.”
The investigative group known today as the METRICH Enforcement Unit began in 1986 with a goal of reducing the availability of illegal drugs in Richland County, according to the agency’s website.
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The unit was formed after officers realized that both the Mansfield Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office were planning to raid the same location. Officers began to meet daily and share information and resources as they jointly conducted raids and arrests.
Today the unit operates in nine other counties outside of Richland: Crawford, Huron, Morrow, Knox, Seneca, Marion, Ashland, Hancock and Wyandot.
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