DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — When it comes to solving crimes, sometimes the best clues come from those not in uniform.
"You do your best to investigate these cases," said Lt. Adam Reed of the Pennsylvania State Police. "You talk to witnesses, you collect evidence and look at all the facts. However, you can't be everywhere all at once."
Pennsylvania State Police have always looked to the public to be additional eyes and ears, but the agency has never had an internal system to collect tips, pay out reward money, and push out information about open cases.
"So, our Bureau of Criminal Investigations came up with PSP Tips," Lt. Reed explained.
It's a tool that has become crucial for police investigations, especially those which have gone cold.
"Sometimes those cold case investigations have been passed down to numerous investigators as our members get promoted, retire, and move on," said Lt. Reed. "So potentially as an investigator, you could have a case file in front of you that is decades-old."
"PSP Tips" brings crime-fighting to an arena most people know well—social media.
"[Social media] obviously reaches a lot of people so Facebook pages such as PSP Tips, get a lot of eyes on it," said Lt. Reed.
Since its launch in April, "PSP Tips" has helped to solve at least 25 major cases and has paid out approximately $12,000 in reward money.
State Troopers have also taken one of their "Top 10 Most Wanted" individuals into custody, because of a tip sent through the "PSP Tips" program.
"We're very proud of the success that it's had and we really hope it does nothing but grow and expand and the reach also expands," said Lt. Reed.