MADISON COUNTY — Law enforcement and emergency management agencies in Madison County have started using the Nextdoor app, a neighborhood social network, according to the Madison County Sheriff Department.

“The Madison County Sheriff will use Nextdoor to increase neighbor to neighbor and countywide communication around neighborhood safety,” a sheriff’s department email states. “ On Nextdoor, neighbors talk about topics ranging from community events to yard sales and referral services. In addition, neighbors can use Nextdoor to alert their communities about suspicious activity or a crime that has occurred.”

According to the sheriff’s department, more than 2,000 public agencies around the country use the app.

The department states public agencies will not be able to view or read private conversations between Nextdoor members. Neighbors using the site will be able to contact law enforcement directly through the site’s private messaging feature.

People can sign up for Nextdoor at www.nextdoor.com or by downloading the iPhone or Andriod app.