Crime & Safety

Hinsdale Police Department Just Wants to Be "Liked"

That's a Facebook reference, of course; the department began this week to employ social networking sites to better reach the community.

The began its voyage into the vast world of social media this week.

Two years after the department began noticing increased use of Twitter and Facebook by other departments and municipalities, Deputy Chief Mark Wodka said the HPD has begun posting police information on the two popular sites known for pithy one-liners and It’s Complicated relationship statuses.

“We’re excited about the release of this and we’re hoping that a large population of Hinsdale resident will ‘like’ us,” Wodka said, referring to the pledges of support every Facebook page seeks and measures itself by.

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Wodka said there will be differences between what the department posts on each site. The Village of Hinsdale Hinsdale Police Department Facebook page will have recent news releases on events, programs, and services offered by the department, as well as more direction to places where residents can find more information.

“The limitation of Twitter is you can’t exceed 140 characters,” Wodka said.

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Even so, the department’s Twitter account (which has an @HinsdalePolice handle) will offer updates on things like missing persons, road closures, and significant crimes.

“I am not sure that we can over communicate with our residents,” Chief Brad Bloom was quoted as saying in a department release, “but the number of people participating in social media outlets continues to grow and we need to grow with it and use this medium to better communicate with the public.”

Wodka said that the Facebook and Twitter accounts, which the department created awhile back so that the Facebook page name and Twitter handle wouldn't be taken when they wanted to begin utilizing the social media, are not meant to be “primary” places for Hinsdale residents to look for information. According to the deputy chief, most community safety information will still go through regional media and residents immediately impacted by an incident will still be contacted through existing email alerts and Code Red reverse 911 phone calls.

“This is just another compliment to those systems in place,” Wodka said of the social media accounts. “What we’re cautious about is that residents aren’t turning to them the minute after [an incident] occurs.”

Wodka will be the man behind the accounts, for the most part. He has some experience with Facebook in the past and appreciates it as a place where you can get in touch with people you don’t necessarily have (or want to have) daily contact with.

“I can reach out to somebody without knowing their email address or phone number,” he said.

Seems that It’s Not That Complicated after all.


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