“My biggest thing in releasing this app was how can I get my message out to the public, whether it be emergencies or just getting things out to the public we serve about things the sheriff’s office is doing, the county is doing or different departments within the county,” Sheriff Aaron Rochon said.

The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office app was developed by TheSheriffApp.com, a brand of OCV LLC that specializes in mobile app development for law enforcement and public safety organizations across the country.

While the sheriff’s department just announced the app’s existence to the public last week, it actually has been online for more than a month while it was tweaked and waiting for a key feature to be ready.

“One of the main functions that I knew was going to be the most sought-after wasn’t active yet — the inmate search,” Rochon said. “I did not want people to download it and see inmate search was not working and either delete it or turn off the notifications and forget about it.”

A SCREENSHOT OF the new Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office app. (Daily News photo)

Once users download the app for the inmate search, the user will find numerous features such as news and events, sheriff’s corner, contact information for sheriff’s department administrators, most wanted, department job postings and a place to anonymously submit information.

Rochon hopes that by using the app, users can see all the areas the sheriff’s department is involved in, from operating the dispatch center and jail, courthouse security, plus road, marine, snowmobile and work van patrols.

A goal of Rochon’s is to provide alternatives to dealing with addiction other than law enforcement, so the app has a section that lists information about area resources for opioid and substance abuse addiction.

Rochon says functions on the app will be forever expanding and is already thinking of items he would like to add in the future.

Rochon hopes the app opens up another line of communication between the public and his office.

“Sometimes when people are afraid to make that phone call or come into our lobby, we never actually end up finding out about issues that may be out there,” Rochon said. “This gives another avenue for them to interact with this office and hopefully it is a positive one.”

The app is funded for the next three years with money the county received from the opioid lawsuit settlements. Rochon hopes in those three years the app becomes an indispensable law enforcement tool.

The app is now available to download for free in the App Store and Google Play by searching “Dickinson County Sheriff, MI” or by going to https://apps.myocv.com/share/a135649801.