The Boardman Police Department has implemented a new program aimed at facilitating a safe and secure meeting place for residents to meet strangers and complete online transactions on websites like Craigslist.
While officials said the Boardman Police Department cannot guarantee the quality or authenticity of items purchased online, the department has created the “Safety Zone” at the Boardman Police Department to ensure that residents have a safe, secure, and public meeting place to conduct purchases and sales of items.
Boardman residents and business owners who wish to complete an online transaction made via Facebook, Craigslist, or another medium, can arrange to meet at the “Online Safe Zone.”
The location is covered by security cameras.
“Our primary duty as police officers is to ensure public safety. Online purchases are very popular, but completing these transactions can make a person feel uncomfortable, and there have been reports all over the country of meetings going wrong,” Police Chief Richard Stokoe said. “We hope that residents take advantage of the new Online Safe Zone as a new program aimed at keeping people safe.”
The Boardman Police Station is staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the weekends an officer can be called to the station as long as they are not on a call.
“There are great deals online, but we want to make sure our residents feel safe and actually are safe when they go to pay for or sell an item,” Stokoe said. “I hope our residents enjoy using the Online Safe Zone.”
