A HIT AND RUN OCCURS. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT POST A PHOTO OF THE CRINKLED PIECE OF THE OFFENDERs VEHICLE. WITHIN SEVERAL MINUTES FB SUBSCRIBERS IDENTIFIED THE TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE NEXT DAY THEY IDENTIFIED THE OWNER. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE LEGWORK AND MAN HOURS AN INVESTIGATION LIKE THIS WOULD TAKE.
POLICE DEPARTMENTS, LONG DEPENDENT ON TRADITIONAL MEDIA TO DISTRIBUTE AND DISSEMINATE CRIME NEWS, CAN NOW TAKE THAT MESSAGE STRAIGHT TO THE RESIDENTS, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE USUALLY EAGER TO HELP.
IN ADDITION TO SURVEILLANCE VIDEO OF A BANK ROBBERY OR OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES, RESIDENTS CAN BE ADVISED OF INTERNET AND TELEPHONE SCAMS.
THE DEPARTMENT’S FACEBOOK PAGE CAN BE USED TO SHOW THE HUMAN SIDE OF POLICING. A COP FINDING AND RETURNING A LOST DOG OR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK WITH A CHILD OR GROUP OF ADOLESCENTS.
POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE A FACEBOOK OR OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA EXPOSURE SHOULD CONSIDER THE POSITIVES. TAKE ALL THE ACTIVITIES INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY POLICING PROGRAM AND TRANSFER THAT ONLINE. INSTEAD OF KNOCKING ON DOORS AND SHAKING HANDS, YOU ARE LITERALLY SHAKING HANDS WITH HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. YOU’RE JUST DOING IT IN CYBERSPACE.
STAY SAFE, BUCKLE UP AND WEAR YOUR VEST!!
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