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We want to get to know our readers. Comments on posts are a great start, as are other social networking sites like Twitter (find us there @christammiller and @SDWhite), Facebook, and various other places.
But we’d like to know why you’re here, specifically. What’s your job function or interest in social media for law enforcement and public safety? What do you want us to do more of, cover more of? Who else do you want to get to know?
Please leave a comment below. Tell us who you are and what you do, what you need and how we can help. We look forward to talking with you!
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Founder Christa M. Miller is a content creator and strategist (i.e. a writer who helps you figure out the best ways to use her writing) who specializes in law enforcement and digital forensics.
I am a Sergeant with a mid-size, Southern California Municipal Police Department in Arcadia, CA. Our agency launched a website some years back, http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/home/index.asp?page=1194, which has grown and is a nice addition to our toolbox. Independent of the PD, the Arcadia Police Officers’ Association also started a website, http://www.arcadiapoa.com/1.html. Unfortunately, APD management opted not to embrace the social media idea just yet, and that was why the POA launched our blog a little over a year ago. We have had good feed back and believe that it serves as an excellent form of community outreach and communication. As fast paced as LA County is, it is unfortunate that sometimes our LE here is slow to embrace change…take a look, I am proud of what we have done.
Tom, thanks for the comment and the link. The APOA does have a good blog, good mix of information and detail. Out of curiosity: 1) Where is your feedback coming from, if not comments? 2) Do you have presence on, or plans to join, other social media spaces? And 3) What is APD’s stand now on social media — do they approve of your efforts, are they interested in getting into the mix?
Christa, thanks for the reply. Our feedback has been mainly through word of mouth, a few phone calls, and direct email via our feedback link on the POA website. Comments on the site have been minimal and after looking at other PD blogs we did not expect an overwhelming amount of traffic. We have tracked visitor numbers and are pleased with the results. We have had Google Analytics linked to the site. Other than a couple of the big PD’s, LAPD and Sacramento, use of social media has not caught on locally. So, until other smaller agencies around us become involved, our management is likely to remain distant. Officially, the blog is not supported, however, there have been a handful of times that even the boss has asked for a topic to be posted. The blog has also prompted more interaction with the media. Several W/C’s have commented that media reps will call with questions after being told, “Quiet night…” and will then ask about something they read on the blog. ; )
The last proposal was over a year ago. There is slightly more on the net that we can use for reference and researching the topic again is how I found your site. We’ll see…I think that we are doing some good. Started up on Twitter a couple of weeks ago but it is mainly a relay of blog info. Facebook will be part of the proposal. Taking a page from Sacramento, we added a “just ask” button in an attempt to solicit interaction from the community. I would imagine that community involvement, communication, feedback, acceptance would all be dependant primarily on the City demographics, population, culture, and how well you sell your agency, just for starters.
I am a Sergeant with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department in Illinois. Three years ago I took over the position of Administrative Assistant to the Sheriff and was given the job of overhauling our original website. Ouch!
It’s been an uphill battle to get our new site accepted within the department. I look at all of ‘our’ Web 2.0 endeavors as a way to build transparencey with the community. Not an easy task in a profession that has always kept the community in the dark.
Fortunately the Sheriff trusts me enough to let me play online, try out new things, and if they don’t work then keep going. Without his support the command staff would have pulled the plug on this experiment before it ever got off the ground.
Good to “meet” you, Sgt. Fulton — thanks for the comment. So you chose to overhaul the original site with more of a blog format? Interesting — Scott did something similar with Portsmouth PD’s site, though he went with a magazine-style blog format.
Do you mind if I ask what specific resistance you have encountered, and what kind of response has the community had to your efforts thus far?
Christa,
I just discovered your wonderful resource here while doing research for a site I’m developing, PoliceDepartment.org. I am VERY interested in local LE’s adoption and use of social media. A big part of what I’m planning to achieve with some of the core features on the site is bridging that gap between:
1.) Local LE’s need for being available online to the community without exposing the Department to the risks inherent in social media, and
2.) the civilian’s desire to stay informed and connected to local police in a world where complete openness, instant access and immediate feedback is expected.
I’d love to chat with you sometime about how best to strike that balance. I’m on twitter @policedept and you have my email address. I’d also encourage your readers to take our very brief survey to tell us what they’d like to see at PoliceDepartment.org/survey.
Thanks again for a fantastic resource!
–Sean
Thanks for the comment, Sean! I emailed and am looking forward to speaking with you, finding out more about PoliceDepartment.org.
Thanks for this much needed web site. I’m a Canadian police officer and while off-duty, in my spare time, I manage the blog for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (link above). Currently we’re publishing a multi-part series about police officers and free speech.
Thanks David! I read Part 1 and am really impressed, I just wrote a short series on standards but focused mainly on ethics — not legalities. I don’t want to steal Jay’s entire essay from you but perhaps some cross-promotion? Also are you personally on any other sites? (I know a LEAP representative was on CopsOnline some months ago.) Please let me know if you’d be interested to talk further.
Aloha Christa,
I think there’s enuff stuff Google has on me that the readers jest need to search for “Chris Duque” “HPD” “Honolulu”. Anything that’s positive IS me! All the negative postings refer to some other guy with my name.
All kidding aside, I’m a retired Detective from Honolulu Police Department. I got out 3mos short of 30years. My last 22years was as a detective in Criminal Investigation Division. My first 6yrs was working in the Vice Division, semi-undercover. You can do the math and realize I have very little Uniform Patrol time.
I got drawn into computer forensics and cyber-investigations in 1990 and never regretted the move.
BTW, there’s no such thing as ‘retirement’ if you live in Hawaii! . And worse if you’ve spent most of your adult life working the streets as a cop, it’s very, very hard to hang it up.
So, what do I do now?
Some computer forensics, some cyber-investigations.
Lotsa presentations to kids, parents, teachers, and seniors about cybersafety.
And recently, working with Hawaii police officers wanting to enhance their effectiveness in their Community Policing endeavors using social media/networking.
And taking life one step at a time
Mahalos & Be Safe!
Chris, I think you almost deserve your own page for being such a great supporter of Cops 2.0! Thanks so much for taking the time to post here.
I found, actually, after just four short years as a law enforcement Explorer… that I had a hard time hanging it up too. Why I’m doing this and writing articles! Anything I can do to support your efforts, please let me know, and also tell me when you’re ready for me to post a case study up here on what you’re doing!
Christa,
I found this blog through your LinkedIn profile which I found while doing some random searches.
I’m a police officer in Quincy, MA. I’m also working on my M.Ed. in Instructional Design where, in one of my course, we are exploring ways to use Web 2.0 for designing training.
Danny
Thanks Danny! I’m so glad you stopped by and took the time to comment. I’m interested in finding out more about your course. I’ve been reading a lot about how training is getting cut due to budget cuts. Tell me more about what you’re doing (email if you prefer)?