Oneonta chief criticizes victims reporting crimes on Facebook [Video]

Here, in a small town of 7,000, there’s a growing trend in how Oneonta’s citizens report crime.>> IMPORTANT ISSUES: WVTM 13 Investigates“It’s astonishing that people would report that to social media without having reported that to us first,” Oneonta police Chief Charles Clifton said.Clifton added that they see more people venting on Facebook instead of calling their local crime fighters to investigate serious problems.“We had a kidnapping, and we, I think that was discovered through a Facebook post,” Clifton said.Going social media gives the crooks a head start in hiding evidence, and Clifton adds that revealing secret crime details to the world can hurt their case.“You’ve got to keep compartmentalizing those things that are for the betterment and the overall betterment and outcome of the investigation,” Clifton said.>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from WVTM 13The chief understands people’s hesitation about getting officially involved in an investigation and the detached ease …