Police Tweeting: An exploration of police and public interactions on social media

• In Event: Police, Social Media, and CCTV

Abstract

The use of social media as a means of communication among law enforcement agencies and the community is growing in popularity. The implementation of social media outreach may represent an effective and cost efficient means of enhancing community policing. Research addressing this topic in the United States, however, is limited. The efficacy of using social media to inform, prevent, and solve crimes, however, is unknown. This research explores the methods and means of using social media in policing. Additionally, the study examines how police departments utilize the social media platform “Twitter” as an effector of positive relations between community and law enforcement officials. Moreover, the current research seeks to answer questions regarding the propagation of information to the public, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of such platforms as tools in community policing.

Authors

• Kaitlin Faye Levy-Liotard, University of Colorado, Denver

• Mary Dodge, University of Colorado, Denver