APD Annual Reports - 2013 Annual Report | Page 19

Define an Identifiable Brand The Arlington Police Department has been pioneering the way in social media content for law enforcement agencies across the globe. By adopting a robust social media philosophy, the department is able to reach a larger, more diverse population in order for the community to stay connected. Social media has really been a “game changer” when it comes to the way citizens receive their news and interact with law enforcement. The main advantage for APD’s use of social media is that the department is in the best position to tell its own story. From profiling cases, to highlighting officers, and passing along important traffic safety information, the department has embraced social media to connect directly with residents. Often times, a citizen may not be able to attend a community meeting; however, they are able to stay plugged in on what’s going in their neighborhood through social media. APD employs different platforms to reach a multitude of audiences. Facebook is used to pass along feel-good stories that highlight the great police work that is happening day in and day out. The community is able to engage in dialogue directly with the police department by commenting on posts and sharing information. Twitter is used to pass along real-time public safety information and tweetalongs. YouTube catalogs all of the department’s videos and programming. Nixle Connect with APD is a subscription based Web: . . . . . www.arlingtonpd.org service where citizens can Facebook: facebook.com/ArlingtonPolice Twitter: . . . @ArlingtonPD and receive alerts and advisories @ArlingtonChief on important community YouTube: . Inside APD information