Calgary Police considering using social media
Posted Oct 26, 2010 4:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Shortly following the electoral success of Mayor Naheed Nenshi, who capitalized on social media during his campaign, the Calgary Police Service is now considering avenues like Twitter and Facebook as crime-fighting tools.
Yes, Twitter could soon be as valuable to police as guns and tasers.
“It becomes an invaluable tool to be used in crime-fighting and to engage the public to assist the police in public safety issues,” said John Dooks, the President of the Calgary Police Association.
Dooks noted police agencies in the United States expanded their use of the social media following President Obama’s election victory two years ago.
“I think everybody is going to jump on board and make this a practical tool that can be used to protect the public,” Dooks told 660News.
Police are already using Twitter and Facebook for investigative purposes. But interaction with the community has been limited.
Police Spokesman Kevin Brookwell told 660News, the CPS is in the process of drawing up policies regarding the expanded use of social media. But they have to be careful when they make that jump “to ensure that we do it right the first time,” said Brookwell. “Otherwise you lose that whole social media side of things because we’re not as responsive as we need to be. I don’t think there is a significant cost outlay to enter into it. But you’d better be prepared to respond in the way the social media world and network expects.”
Brookwell said he’s confident that within the next few months, the Calgary Police Service will be rolling out new programs.
