By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The Ellis County Sheriff's Office is now just a tap away with its innovative new app, designed to keep the community informed and more connected than ever.
The Sheriff's app aims to enhance communication with residents by providing news, alerts and real-time updates.
Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun said the mobile app will fill a critical gap in distributing information to the area.
"I'm excited to provide this to the community. It's something we have been missing and will give information that our community needs," he said.
The app allows users to submit crime tips, access live inmate information, view an offender watch map, explore cyber safety resources and receive weather updates.
You can download the app on Google Play and iOS.
The app was inspired by the sheriff's office's need to deliver urgent information to the community during critical events. Sheriff Scott Braun said relying on third-party platforms can cause communication delays.
"We were having to close highway 40 like seven times when a dust storm was coming through. We didn't have an adequate way of being able to push that information ourselves," he said.
The app allows the sheriff's office to communicate directly with the public when necessary.
Tips for ongoing investigations can be submitted directly from the app's homepage. However, Braun emphasizes that 911 should always be used in emergencies as the app can be vulnerable to technical issues.
The app features a live tracker for inmates at the Ellis County Jail, providing information such as current inmate names, alleged charges and physical descriptions.
The app also includes a registered offenders map to view the locations of violent, drug and sex offenders within their area.
"It will pin the location and where they live," Braun said. "If you're a next-door neighbor to somebody you didn't know [were registered], you can be fully aware of that by going to the sheriff app."
Even though the holiday season has ended, the sheriff's app covers you for keeping your home secure if you're out of town.
The vacation patrol request button lets residents inform the sheriff's office of their absence and submit details to add their property to a patrol checklist for routine checks.
Businesses can also use the app to provide emergency contact information for scheduled patrols.
The sheriff's app provides resources on scams and cyber security to educate and help community members safeguard against cyber threats and fraud.
The app also delivers real-time weather updates and alerts for Ellis County, informing anyone hitting the road about severe weather conditions.
"If we have information on multiple accidents, we can push it out immediately and say, 'Please avoid Highway 40. It is extremely slick,'" Braun said.
Braun said the sheriff's office plans to integrate a live weather channel into the app, which will allow users to hear updates from field officers.
The sheriff's app is available for download but is still being refined to enhance performance and provide a user-friendly experience.
"We'll find out what people use and what they don't use. We may tweak, remove and add some things," Braun said.
The Ellis County Sheriff's Office partnered with TheSheriffApp.com to create the app, which was released in early December and has since undergone updates.
You can continue to follow the Ellis County Sheriff's Office on Facebook for updates.