The 13-year-old boy was last seen wearing a gray jacket, maroon shirt, and tan pants before he went missing from his South Toledo home.

On Tuesday police took to Facebook, posted a description of him, and asked anyone with information to call the Crime Stopper tip line.

But then, in a surprising twist, the boy helped Toledo police solve his own reported missing persons case — all through Facebook. The story is one recent example of how, for many law enforcement agencies, social media has become a tool for helping the public and fighting crime.

Not long after TPD’s Facebook post went up, the missing boy responded from his own Facebook account, saying he was OK.

“I’ll be home tonight,” the boy wrote in the now-deleted series of posts.

A conversation through posts ensued. Toledo Police Department spokesman Sgt. Kevan Toney, who primarily manages the department’s account followed by nearly 78,000 Facebook users, encouraged the boy to call police, saying officers would give him a ride back home. Other Facebook users called for the boy to go home or asked questions to police about harboring a runaway child.

“We are only concerned about you getting back safe,” one TPD post said.

Eventually the boy sent a private message to the department’s account.

“... and we communicated with him that way,” Sergeant Toney said. “A family member ended up calling and we were able to meet up with [the boy] and he is no longer a missing person.

“He wanted our assistance. That was unique and, really, the ultimate resolution is we wanted to know that he was safe,” Sergeant Toney said.

From announcing emergencies, to posting surveillance photos in order to identify a suspect in a crime, Facebook, Twitter, and other online avenues are allowing police officers and sheriff’s deputies to better do their work in the digital era.

The Lucas County Sheriff’s Office has its’ own social media account, and Sheriff John Tharp has a Twitter account too. The sheriff said it has been helpful to notify the community of dangerous situations, such as snow emergencies.

“This is a huge tool,” Sheriff Tharp said. “This is just a way to communicate with the community and get the community involved.”

Attempt to Identify: #detectives need your help! An aggravated robbery occurred around 5:30pm this evening (12-17-17) at Little Caesars (Secor and Alexis). Call crime stoppers w/ information (419-255-1111). pic.twitter.com/J65aUcUUbw

— Toledo Police (@ToledoPolice) December 18, 2017

According to a 2016 survey by the Urban Institute about law enforcement use of social media, more than 90 percent of law enforcement agencies use social media to notify the public of safety concerns, 89 percent use it for community outreach, 86 percent use it for public relation and reputation management, and 59 percent have contacted a social media company to obtain information to use as evidence.

Most of the agencies that responded to the survey were local police departments from across the United States.

“Social media has the potential to help agencies manage their own reputation and contact community members directly to bolster community-police relations,” the report said.

That principle is being put into practice in Oregon, where the police department uses Facebook and Twitter to connect with its residents.

“It has helped us with our relationship with the community. They see faces and names. It helps them feel a little more comfortable with our officers when they’re dealing with them,” Oregon Assistant Chief Paul Magdich said.

The assistant chief has also been reeling the community in with a weekly post on the department’s Facebook account called “Tuesday Tidbit,” a lengthy post about national or local issues. His first post addressed the mass shooting that left more than 20 dead at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn.

An officer may suggest a particular topic or the assistant chief may answer a frequent question through his post. The weekly posts typically have more than 100 likes and multiple comments.

“I’m surprised at how many people read it and comment, not just on social media,” Assistant Chief Magdich said. “I’ll see people out and about and they’ll comment on it. I’m pleasantly surprised at how many people will read it.”

Oregon Street department is working hard on Christmas Eve to keep you safe! Give them some room and give them time to get the roads cleared for you! A big THANK YOU to a job well done! pic.twitter.com/xPvDVBWSUY

— Oregon Ohio Police (@OregonOHPolice) December 25, 2017

Toledo police turned to social media to show a typical day for an officer during two virtual ride-alongs last year. Sergeant Toney followed officers on their shift, tweeting and posting to the department’s Instagram account about different incidents handled by the patrolmen.

Social media is also a great way to build morale within a department, Sheriff Tharp said. Acknowledging employees or people who help the agency on social media make them feel appreciated, the sheriff said.

Contact Allison Reamer at areamer@theblade.com, 419-724-6506 or on Twitter @AllisonRBlade.

First Published January 5, 2018, 12:45 a.m.