The Columbus Police Department is joining Twitter.
The department created an account — @Columbus_MS_PD — and will begin using it to provide real-time reporting to the public on Monday. The department, in a media release Wednesday, said it is in the process of having Twitter verify the account.
CPD will use the social media tool to provide updates on incidents such as bomb threats, road closings, vehicle accidents and criminal activity.
“This is an excellent way for the Columbus Police Department to report to the public details on events they need to know,” Mayor Robert Smith said in the release. “With this new system, accurate news can be sent out in minutes, in real time and it can be trusted and accurate.”
CPD Interim Chief Fred Shelton said the account will allow the department to put out accurate information in a timely manner. He said posts will also include photos, when appropriate.
“We will be communicating updates on issues as they happen,” he said. “In this social media world of today, there is often a lot of incorrect information being passed around as truth, when it is not.
“The posts will come from professionally-trained personnel in the field that know and understand how critical it is to keep the public informed,” Shelton added.
CPD’s Twitter account will allow the department to more efficiently make residents and businesses aware of what’s happening in the community. For example, Shelton said in the release that in the past if an incident occurred near certain schools or businesses, the department would have to take time to call each one. Now the department can take care of it instantly via Twitter and keep citizens updated as situations develop.
CPD investigators can also use the account to post photos of suspects and other information so that the public can assist in cases.
Shelton said CPD will only use the account to release for necessary information.
“We will not use the account for public relations purposes,” Shelton said. “There is already so much social media noise in the world today and we don’t want to add to that. If we post something, it will be because the public needs to know.”
Questions or comments can be emailed to CPD at [email protected].
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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