April 5, 2010

New Sheriff's Dept. website added to the online mix

By Maci Hughes

CENTRE — As technology advances several local offices have developed websites to help better inform they public they serve, including the Chamber of Commerce, Cherokee County Circuit Clerk Dwayne Amos, and tax assessor Johnny Roberts.

The most recent addition to the online list is the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department (www.cherokeecountyalsheriff.com).

“When I was first elected, I was aware of the need to share public information with the community we serve,” said Sheriff Jeff Shaver. “The Internet is the easiest and most efficient way to reach people.”

The development of the website is part of Shaver's ongoing commitment to make information on matters of public safety and general operations of the office readily available and more easily accessible to the public.

The site provides details of each office division and projects sponsored by the department, including Project Lifesaver and ZEROMETH. On the home page, readers are welcomed with a brief history of Cherokee County.

Also on the home page is an e-mail alert function which allows participants to sign up for automatic information updates on daily arrests and releases, press statements, and other important messages.

Designed by Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing, Inc., the website contains useful links to important sources of information such as sex offenders, concealed weapons, detention center rules and guidelines, etc. Readers can also find a list of the department's “most wanted” fugitives.

Visitors can also click links that will introduce them to the men and women who serve on the department, from patrolling deputies and investigators to detention facility personnel and animal control officers.

“All sorts of useful information is available,” Shaver said. “Citizens can search the sex offender database and learn who is living in their communities. People can contact us with crime tips and other information.”

He added: “The most wanted page has been utilized to locate and arrest wanted individuals. The pictures may be printed and become an instant wanted poster.”

Some pages change as frequently as every five minutes, others only when information changes. Jail roster information is updated automatically by the booking software as people are arrested or released. Updating each link is the responsibility of individual office personnel.

“The individual pages are assigned to personnel at the Sheriff's Office, and I approve all information submitted to the website,” Shaver said.

Overall, the website has proved to be an effective way to communicate with the public and a useful tool to provide current, useful information about the operations of the Sheriff's office.

“The response to our website has been astounding,” said Sheriff Shaver.