Perkins Township Police are asking residents to help put names to faces after posting photos of two men that Officer Collins is trying to identify. The department shared the images on Facebook Monday, asking anyone with information to come forward, though the post did not detail what prompted the search.
The request, posted by the Perkins Township Police Department on its Facebook page, says Officer Collins is seeking assistance identifying the two males pictured. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Collins directly at 419-627-0824 ext. 6053 or by email at [email protected]. The department has stated that any information provided will be kept confidential.
It's not yet clear what incident, if any, prompted the identification request, since the original post included only the photos without describing an underlying offense. That kind of appeal is a familiar tool for the department, which has long used its Facebook page as a crowdsourced tip line for open cases.
A Track Record of Crowdsourced Tips
The approach has paid off before. In October 2020, Perkins Township Police released surveillance photos on Facebook in connection with a $1 million aggravated arson case at a local Kroger, and public tips led officers to quickly identify and arrest a suspect near Sandusky Mall, according to WTOL 11. The department has also used social media updates in the past to notify the public once suspects tied to earlier identification requests, such as attempted home entries near US-250 and East Perkins Avenue, were successfully found.
Property crime is a persistent concern in the township. Perkins Township sees an estimated 2,609.7 property theft incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average of 2,042.8, according to data compiled by Niche, even as violent crime rates in the township remain well below national baselines. The township's commercial corridor along US-250 and Milan Road is often cited as a factor behind that elevated theft rate.
Confidentiality Backed by State Law
The promise of confidentiality for tipsters isn't just department policy. Under Ohio's constitutional victim and witness rights provisions, known as Marsy's Law, and Ohio Revised Code Section 2930.01, law enforcement agencies are legally bound to protect witness confidentiality and privacy during active investigations, according to the City of Huron. That legal backing gives residents added assurance that reaching out to Officer Collins won't expose them publicly.
Perkins Township Police Chief Jeff Musser, who took over the department in February 2023 after previously serving as interim chief, leads a force headquartered at 2610 Columbus Ave. in Sandusky. The department has also built up its investigative capacity in recent years, including a $26,500 state grant from the Ohio Governor's Office in May 2024 to help cover investigative overtime and specialized technology, and body-worn camera funding totaling $96,286 from the Ohio Department of Public Safety in December 2022.
The department also works beyond its own jurisdiction on larger cases. In October 2022, Perkins Police joined a multi-agency investigation that led an Erie County grand jury to indict six suspected gang members on burglary, safe cracking, and criminal gang activity charges, spanning law enforcement agencies across Erie, Wood, and Lucas counties.
Meeting Officers Face to Face
Residents looking to connect with the department in person will have chances later this month and beyond. Perkins Township Police are set to take part in the township's annual Community Day on Saturday, August 29, from noon to 4 p.m. at Strickfaden Park, 318 Bell Ave., offering interactive displays and direct outreach with officers. The department also relies entirely on private donations, not tax dollars, to fund its K-9 unit officer and dog, Tenda, hosting annual fundraisers at the same park, according to the Sandusky Register.
For now, the identities of the two men in the photos remain unknown, and the department has not said what, if anything, they are suspected of. Anyone with information is encouraged to reach out to Officer Collins, with the department reiterating that tips will remain confidential.
