FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. — In the last week, there has been four shootings across Forsyth County- some of them deadly.
It comes as the area is experiencing a surge in homicides, but now the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office has a free app to help.
The department said it took months coming up with the features and icons. To make it all happen, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office worked with developer Lighthouse for Public Safety, a company that has built many other apps for law enforcement agencies across the country.
The department said creating the app was so important.
"We don't look at this as a crime app more so a resource tool because when you open it there is everything from the crime map, you can view the inmates at the detention center, you can find out frequently asked questions, phone numbers for divisions throughout the agency, you can submit anonymous tips, and see an events calendar so this is a one stop shop for everything that you may need to know," said Daniel Crews, Public Information Officer for the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.
Crews said the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office is the fourth largest department in the state and currently the largest law enforcement agency with a downloadable app for the public.
Another cool feature in the app is you can sign up for push alerts.
"We still post a lot on social media but a lot of people do not have social media open all the time. If we have something important to get to you you'll get that information very quickly as soon as we send it out," Crews said.