Creating a Social Media Engaged Agency Presented by: Sergeant Tom Le Veque Arcadia Police Department
Development of the Arcadia Social Media Presence Arcadia Police Officers’ Association –Intense negotiations –Edited & opinionated articles in traditional print media –Lack of timeliness –Needed to market the POA –Google = Topix & “Foothill Cities Blog”
Research! Limited resources Cops2Point0 –Christa Miller Sacramento PD –“Officer Michelle” Whittier PD Blog Oxnard PD –Beat Cop Tweets Boca Raton PD
Bellevue PD, Nebraska Blog & Twitter Presence ConnectedCOPS.net –Lauri Stevens –#140 Conference, “3 Tweeting Chiefs”
Arcadia Police Officers’ Association APOA News & Information Blog –Free platform (Blogger – WordPress) –Coordinated with Administration APOA Website –Positive articles –Allowed comments –Personal touch APOA Twitter
Return on Investment (ROI) Communication tool –Real time –Dialogue Positive branding (marketing) Builds trust InfluenceEducation Ability to touch anyone, anywhere!
ROI (continued) Listen & learn –What is being said about your agency? YouTube burglary comment Citation = harassment? –What does your community expect? Can give your agency a personality Improved relations with media Force multiplier –Community Policing –Information
“Official” Arcadia Police Department Presence Buy-in from Chief of Police, Feb 2010 BlogFacebookTwitter (Verified) Nixle (Community Wire – Emergency Communication) Crime Mapping
Arcadia Police Department
What & Who is behind your successful presence? Buy-in from the TOP! Volunteer for assignment Involve all sections of agency Internal education –Overcomes “fear” –Prevents embarrassment –Politics, legal issues, & privileged information –Everything is public –Leave opinion at the door Policy Development
Successful presence (continued) Engage & participate –Comments? PatienceTimeliness –FLSA –Team approach –Emergencies Sincerity & follow-thru Listen, ask, and adapt
Successful presence (continued) Network & Research –Within Law Enforcement International Association of Chiefs of Police ANY other LE presence –Outside of our profession! GovLoopGov2.0 Private industry –Evaluate “Expert” opinion
What to talk about? Crime incidents Crime trends & prevention Upcoming activities & events Agency awards & recognition Recognize your community Enhanced press releases ASK!Value
Time Investment & cost? Basic presence in hours to days Maintenance = 1-2 hours per day –Personnel time $ Tools –Free blog platform Blogger, WordPress –Free Twitter platform Tweetdeck, Hootsuite –Free Facebook –Free Nixle –Google Alerts & Analytics –Consultants
Future? Use of video –YouTube channel –Press releases Citywide department involvement School District –Nixle –HS Journalism
Overcoming Apprehension International Association of Chiefs of Police Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Growing number of local agencies