The Boston Police Department (BPD) is pleased to announce that our Twitter feed has officially surpassed 20,000 direct followers. The BPD is one of the first police departments in the country to make use of this latest social media phenomenon. The BPD currently has more direct Twitter followers than any other police department nationwide.
The Boston Police Department Twitter account is part of the BPD Virtual Community, which is the department’s network of outreach methods to provide timely and important crime information to Boston residents, business owners, and individuals who take an interest in our neighborhoods. The BPD Virtual Community was created to be a one stop source for public safety news and community alert information. The BPD Virtual Community is located at BPDNews.com.
The following features are also part of our virtual community located at BPDNews.com:
• BPDNews blog – The Boston Police Department is the first police department in the country to start a blog. The department began blogging in 2005 and currently logs approximately 70,000 visitors a month. The blog offers all of the latest public safety information and department news.
• Facebook – The Boston Police Department currently has over 3,000 fans on Facebook. Here fans receive frequent posts on public safety information, community events, interesting department photos and fun facts about the history of the Boston Police Department.
• Crimereports.com – This helpful crime-mapping tool allows community members to visit a user-friendly website and quickly access public safety information specific to the selected neighborhood.
• Citizenobserver – This community e-alert system allows residents to sign up to receive texts and emails from their local district on important public safety information and alerts distributed by their district Community Service Officer.
• Neighbors for Neighbors.com – This is a local neighborhood-based social networking site for people to connect and organize around common interests
• Text-A-Tip – The Boston Police is the first police department in the country to utilize text messaging to allow community members to send information anonymously to our CrimeStoppers Unit.
• Call The Cops – This is the department’s weekly cable show which is also posted to YouTube where the department strives to offer community members safety tips, a recap of weekly events and an up close and personal look at the BPD.