The Dallas Police Department has turned to social media in their effort to capture a fugitive, Christopher Prieto, whose details were broadcasted in their latest #WantedWednesday campaign on Facebook. The Dallas PD is calling upon the public to provide any leads on Prieto’s whereabouts, urging anyone with information to step forward and contact Crime Stoppers at 214-373-TIPS (8477).
While the department’s post explicitly warns against citizens taking police action urging the public to leave the capturing to trained professionals, the shared urgency is palpable; officials are keen on tracking down Prieto and are leveraging the power of social networking to encourage community involvement in this law enforcement matter. The motive or charges Prieto may be facing, however, were not disclosed in the Facebook post.
The Dallas Police Department’s strategy reflects a growing trend among law enforcement agencies to utilize digital platforms to engage the public in their search for individuals wanted in connection with criminal activities. Online measures, such as the #WantedWednesday posts, have proven to be effective in crowdsourcing information and generating tips that could potentially lead to the apprehension of suspects.
Anyone coming into contact with Christopher Prieto or possessing knowledge of his location is being reminded once again to refrain from confrontation but to contact the appropriate authorities; plainly, it’s the job of the police to ensure any encounter with Prieto is handled safely and according to the protocols that protect both officers and citizens alike. According to the Dallas Police Department, the anonymity of informants is assured by Crime Stoppers, which allows tipsters to stay out of the direct line of the legal process while contributing to justice being served.
