THUNDER BAY – Crimebeat – “The idea of the blog is to give people just an idea of what its like to be a police officer down on the Eastside”, states Constable Steve Addison. The Vancouver Police Department Constable has created a blog to share with the public. His blog is his views, and he does not speak for the Vancouver Police Department, but rather things that he has experienced in his job, and offering a taste of what his job entails.
The goal is to encourage discussion. While the project is not one stating official police policy and the Constable states he is not speaking directly for the Vancouver Police Department, his efforts are supported by the Department.
It is a positive example of progressive policing. The Vancouver Police Department is one of the most progressive forces in Canada.
The Vancouver Police Department calls it “Above the call”. It certainly is, allowing the public to see what is happening behind the scenes offers the police the opportunity to garner greater public engagement and respect.
Constable Addison is also, again with the support of the Vancouver Police Department, expanding into the Twittersphere. “Tweet the Beat: Don’t forget to join me tonight as I make my first foray into the Twittersphere. Starting at 3 p.m. I’ll take readers on a tweet-a-long through the Downtown Eastside, giving regular updates throughout my shift under the hashtag #CstSteve. You can follow along at VPD’s Twitter feed, @Vancouver PD. Be sure to send in your questions and comments. I’ll try to get to them when I have some down time,” blogged the Constable.
To visit the blog, go to www.beatcopdiary.vpd.ca.
This is yet another example of how police services and departments across North America are using social media and the Internet to reach out past their traditional market to engage with residents of the communities that they serve.
This is not the only way that the Vancouver Police Department is using the Internet.
Through Youtube the VPD is reaching out to the community to make a difference.
Visit the VPD web site at www.vpd.ca.