Twin Cities Cops Add Cell Phone Alerts to Arsenal

Today, Minneapolis and St. Paul officially start Nixle, a service that provides information over cell phones by text message, e-mail and on the Web. More than 1,000 law enforcement agencies now use Nixle, including Los Angeles, Chicago and Baltimore. Unlike services such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, Nixle doesn't allow unauthenticated information to be communicated.

New Media, Old Media, and Policing

Most of law enforcement has watched the information age and rising knowledge-worker revolution as curious observers. We should instead embrace the opportunities these innovations have brought us, and communicate directly with the public. After all, we work for them.

Getting the Word Out

Law enforcement agencies will soon have access to the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS), a voluntary emergency alerting system developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the FCC, and wireless carriers.

Pittsburgh PD Uses Text Messaging During G-20 Protest

Part of the story of how the department kept protests from getting too unruly can be told by explaining a new text-messaging technology to share information about protester activities instantly within its own command structure, as well as with outside agencies.

N.H. Department Deploys Notification App

The Manchester (N.H.) Police Department will begin supporting Ping4's Citizens Alerts app, a notification tool that brings a variety of public safety alerts to smart phones within a jurisdiction.

False Alarm Siren in Ohio Offers Reminder for Police Trainers

There was no report of severe weather in the area and the Emergency Alert System is functioning correctly. KPD apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the alarm.

Dallas Police Hire Social Media Officer

Sr. Cpl. Melinda Gutierrez has been distributing crime alerts, requests for public assistance to locate missing persons, surveillance video and departmental commendations via Facebook, Twitter, Nixle and YouTube.

Police Potpourri

Increasingly, there are so many things falling on the law enforcement radar that I feel self-conscious running at the mouth on any one of them. Not to worry, I will continue to do so.

Mike Parker