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Crime Fighters Need MySpace Friends

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By VALERIE KALFRIN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 21, 2008

TAMPA - A 93-year-old with a "determined" mood is looking for friends on My- Space in hopes of solving crimes.

The Tampa Police Department in May launched its own page on the popular social-networking site, asking members to "Help solve crimes! Add us as your friend!"

To set up the page, the department had to choose an age for its profile. Why 93? "I was trying to pick how old the police department is, but options offered didn't go back that far," police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said Thursday.

The page can be found at www.myspace.com/tampa police.

"We wanted to reach a younger demographic that might not be watching the news," police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

Although up and running, the page still is being tweaked for its official rollout in August, when it will include videos from burglaries and robberies, McElroy said. School resource officers will be trained in how to update the site and communicate with anyone providing tips.

So far, the page includes a slide show of unsolved homicides and a blurb about a $16,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever killed a Clorox delivery man on Feb. 22. Listed friends include Crime Stoppers and TV's "America's Most Wanted."

In addition to MySpace, the department is looking into another option for people wishing to provide crime-solving tips: text messages, McElroy said.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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