Det. Tony Matthews of the Lake Forest Park Police has set up a website called CanYouID.me. It's the modern, electronic version of the old "wanted" flyers thumbtacked to the police bulletin board.
Police departments around the the entire state will have the option of posting photos or drawings of "persons of interest" so the public can check them out and help to identify suspects, witnesses, or even innocent bystanders.
Det. Matthews says that when Washington County, Oregon police set up the original website, their case clearance rate went from 7-8% to 30%.
Photos currently on the site are the half-dozen open cases from Lake Forest Park. Police in Mercer Island, Lynnwood, Bellevue, and Milton have signed on to the project and will begin posting their own photos.
Photos will stay on the site for 60 days. New photos will be added as information is available. Each photo has an email link so tips can be sent directly to the department which posted the photo. The tips can be anonymous.
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