By Linda Shepard
C & G Staff Writer

OAKLAND COUNTY — Police and cable TV are partnering to fight crime.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the Grosse Pointe Shores Public Safety Department and Comcast have launched “Police Blotter On Demand” to help track down suspects.

“Partnering with Comcast allows us to get in front of thousands of local residents interested in keeping their communities safe,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “As offenders get smarter, so must we, and ‘Police Blotter On Demand’ helps us use the latest technology to stay ahead of the curve.”

Through Comcast’s On Demand service, digital cable TV customers can tune into “Police Blotter On Demand” to view pictures and profiles of the most wanted criminals in the metro Detroit area. Viewers who have information regarding a featured suspect will be directed to contact police and leave their tips anonymously.    

According to Pat Paterno, Comcast director of communications, digital customers will find the most wanted via the Get Local button on the On Demand main screen. “We’ve done this in Wayne County; now we are going into Oakland County. It is a great concept,” Paterno said. “In other parts of the country, this has worked very well, with many fugitives caught.”

Paterno said viewers who recognize a suspect should call (888) TURN1IN or dial 911. “The person obviously can be dangerous,” he said.

The profiles are frequently updated and run for two months, or until suspects are caught. As additional police agencies join the partnership, the number of suspects will increase accordingly, officials say.

“Comcast is committed to promoting public safety and providing On Demand programming that is meaningful to the local community,” said Tom Coughlin, senior vice president for Comcast in Michigan. “Law enforcement agencies in other areas of the country are already starting to use tips from Comcast customers in their efforts to track down dangerous individuals.”

Comcast’s Michigan Region serves more than 1.2 million customers statewide and employs more than 4,000 people. Comcast has three major call centers in the state, and houses its Michigan-region headquarters in Southfield.