Pictured is the home screen of the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office mobile app. The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office plans to start an app similar to this one which features news and events, inmate lookup, community resources and more. The new app will replace the MobilePatrol app which was recently shut down by the sheriff’s office due to the release of inaccurate information. (Journal screenshot)

MARQUETTE — The MobilePatrol app used by county residents to view those who had been booked into jail was recently shut down by the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office.

The app provided information on who was arrested the previous evening and lodged in the jail, and allowed citizens to report crime tips.

The app was shut down because it was not run by the sheriff’s office and did not always provide citizens with the most accurate or up-to-date information, said Marquette County Sheriff Greg Zyburt.

The MobilePatrol app was being updated by an organization that was pulling information from VINELink — Victim Information and Notification Everyday – a national website that allows victims of crime and the general public to track the movements of prisoners.

The app would post an individual’s name, information and mug shot before they had been arraigned, Zyburt explained.

“What happens once in awhile is someone will be arrested, and when it goes to the prosecutor, the prosecutor says ‘No, I’m not going to authorize on that warrant,’ and so charges are dropped and that person’s name and face is out for a crime,” Zyburt said. “The other thing is we had no control over putting stuff in or taking stuff out. Quite often someone would bond out, probably within hours, and they would have it on there for a week.”

Those who were released quickly would then call the office and ask to have their names removed from the app, which was out of the sheriff’s office’s control, he said.

Zyburt has been researching alternative apps for the office to use and update with information only once a person has been arraigned.

“Once they’re arraigned, it’s gone through a court and it’s gone through a judge. Until that time, for me, it seems like there’s some liability if you’re putting people’s names and faces out there and it’s not officially registered through the court,” Zyburt said. “I want something that we have control over where we’re able to put out the information.”

He plans to choose a new app for the sheriff’s office in the next few weeks.

“I want to make sure innocent people, their faces and names aren’t falsely put out there,” Zyburt said. “I just want something that’s more accurate.”

An app he has been considering is similar to one used by the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, which offers more than just inmate look up. He plans for the app to have information on road and weather conditions, safety tips, sheriff’s programs such as STOPPED, and more.

“There will be all kinds of different information that people will be able to use every day,” Zyburt said. “I think it’ll be a big plus for everyone in Marquette County and I’m going to try and push it to get as many people as possible to get it.”

The sheriff’s office will notify the public once an app is chosen, he said.

Trinity Carey can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206.