Last week I talked about the importance of “listening” to your community, including taking into account a variety of factors about the community itself. It won’t be the last I discuss this topic, but I wanted to take some time to examine what Boca Raton PD is doing with all that data. Chief Dan Alexander,…
Tag Archive: MySpace
Experts: Branding opportunities in disguise
Much of the focus on law enforcement use of social media is on police departments as a whole. From a community-relations standpoint, this is important—but police departments may be missing out on a valuable opportunity to brand themselves and law enforcement in general. For that, they might consider turning to individual experts. What’s an individual…
Nixle adds stability to Tyrone, GA tweets
When I first read articles about Nixle, I was concerned. Yes, it’s secure and stable, and that alone makes it a vastly better way to broadcast information than using Twitter. But the key word is “broadcast.” Social media enthusiasts are quick to point out that “it’s all about the relationship.” Communication is a two-way street;…
In Fairfield, California, My #1 Friend is a Cop
More police departments are starting to develop presences in social network spaces. They ask for help locating suspects, tell community members about department-sponsored events, and interact via comments and messages. They may also drive traffic to a main Web site or warn citizens of nearby emergencies. Many of these pages resemble the “cop on the…
The new agency blog: What to say?
Starting an official department blog can be intimidating, especially for those who don’t think of themselves as “writers.” As I wrote earlier, you should consider it another form of communication – talking to the public. But what do you actually write about? Some blogs, like the LAPD’s, take the concept of newspapers’ “Police Blotter” a…
Social Media vs Employer
Wow! Imagine my surprise when I popped open my browser window to find this: Cop catches heat for profane blog entries Although Newport News doesn’t regulate the behavior of off-duty employees or what they write, individuals shouldn’t make reckless or malicious statements against city employees, according to the city’s existing policy. In addition, any conduct…