Some Maine police are hoping to tap a new pool of tipsters: Drug dealers.
In a somewhat tongue-in-check example of how law enforcement officials are making use of social media to connect with the public, the police departments in South Portland and Winslow have posted fliers on their Facebook pages urging drug dealers to turn in their competitors.
The local efforts, first reported by Dennis Hoey of the Portland Press Herald, build on similar half-joke posts by other law enforcement agencies around the country.
“Attention drug dealers: Are your competitors costing you money?! We’re here to help! Please take advantage of our free service…”
As of this writing, the South Portland flier has been shared more than 300 times and liked almost 350 times. Another 175 people liked the Winslow version and nearly 100 shared it.
The flier asks the aggrieved drug dealers to give them the names, addresses, phone numbers and clients of their competitors.
“Could this prompt someone to call us with a tip? Yes, it could,” Lt. Frank Clark of the South Portland police told the Press Herald. “Greed and personal gain is a common trait among drug traffickers.
“It’s lighthearted, but who knows, it could prove to be useful. We really don’t care what a drug dealer’s motivation is,” he continued.