ASHLAND — Ashland County Sheriff’s Office officially launched its free app, ACSO, on Tuesday.
Sheriff Kurt J. Schneider said the office is always working to better communicate with residents, and ACSO will help them support that mission.
The app will send notifications to users about threats to safety, health and well-being.
“The emergency management agency also now has a tab on here, and then you can get to this tab, sign up for their services as well,” Schneider said.
The service is called Code Red, and users can sign up to receive notifications from it through ACSO. Code Red notifies users about natural disasters, hazards and other threats to public safety.
Schneider said Ashland County Sheriff’s Office joins the 40-plus Ohio Sheriff’s Offices with an app.
ACSO is available on the Apple Store and Google Play.
The app offers residents different resources in the community, as well as information about the Sheriff’s Office. The resources page takes visitors directly to city officials and organizations’ websites.
For Ashland County Commissioners President Jim Justice, the ability to submit a tip anonymously is the most important feature of the app.
“The whole idea that you can go and anonymously turn in a drug dealer and not fear for your life because you’re close [to them], I think that’s a major, major part of this app for me,” Justice said.
Schneider pointed out other forms of submitting a tip, such as a phone call, Facebook message or email, can all be traced back to someone.
But through the app, once someone submits a tip, the message goes directly to Schneider, and depending on the category of crime the user selects, certain captains will also receive the tip.
People can include images or videos in their tips as well.
ACSO also features a live sex-offender map. Schneider said residents no longer have to go to specific websites to find this information.
“You’ll be able to see who they are, what they look like, where they live, what the offenses and stuff are,” Schneider said.
App users can search for inmates and add inmate funds or commissary to inmates’ accounts.
Schneider said he has wanted to implement an app since 2023, and in November of 2024 he started talking with commissioners and app developers to make the idea a reality.
The app cost more than $40,000 to design and launch, and will cover a three year contract, which could include app improvements. The Ashland County Commissioners funded the project.
The Sheriff’s Office will continue to evolve the app to better serve Ashland County residents.
Schneider said that could include collaborations with other organizations to send out important messages to residents.
