METRICH drug task force adds mobile application

MANSFIELD — The decades-long fight against illegal drugs across a 10-county north central Ohio just added a new high-tech tool.

The METRICH Enforcement Unit, which began in Mansfield and Richland County in 1986, has recently an added an online application, the first of its kind for a multi-county drug task force in Ohio.

“We’ve had the website for years and it has been our intent to catch up with the 21st century by offering a new online app platform for our citizens,” said Mansfield police Chief Keith Porch, the task force project director.

“It mimics our website in terms of drug awareness and how to report a tip,” Porch said. “But now it will be at the citizens’ fingertips.”

The chief said the app will provide useful information to the public, such as drug education, addiction resources, and helpful links.

Users will be able to view press releases, and calendar events which are tailored to the specific counties within the METRICH region, Porch said.

METRICH is the first drug task force in Ohio to have a mobile app. But the technology has had success in other locations, including Scott County, Minn. and the southwest section of that state.

The technology is a far cry from the organization’s launch 36 years ago.

METRICH began as a cooperative effort between Mansfield police, Richland County Sheriff’s Office and the country prosecutor when the two law enforcement agencies learned they were about to raid the same location.

It has grown over the years to include more than 40 communities in Richland, Ashland, Crawford, Knox, Hancock, Huron, Marion, Morrow, Seneca and Wyandot counties, funded by local agencies grants from the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, which has encouraged regional cooperation and efficiency.

Law enforcement officers in those counties meet, share information, resources and assist one another as needed in drug raids and arrests. The task force remains decentralized, but cooperative.

The app will help streamline citizen tips, creating a more efficient process, according to Porch.

“The app will allow tips to be submitted online, which will be referred to detectives in the county it comes from,” he said. “It will be easier than calling in to a tip line and leaving an anonymous message.”

The application went live a few days ago, according to the chief, who said the effort had to go through Apple and Android platforms.

“It’s new and functionality-wise, we can get feedback and make changes to better serve our citizens and detectives,” he said.

Grant funding helped METRICH create the application, an effort which is not inexpensive, according to Porch.

“Some police departments and sheriff’s offices have apps and I would love to have one for my department. They are extremely expensive,” he said.

“I think (METRICH) prides itself on (being cutting edge) and we should be. Other (Ohio) task forces have heard we are doing this. Maybe we have lit the fire and it will spread throughout the state.

“We hope citizens within the METRICH region will take full advantage of this new platform and together we can reduce the availability of drugs that enter our community on a daily basis,” the chief said.