Upper Gwynedd Township Police are asking residents to utilize their Crimewatch page, following registration issues that lead to the department being locked out of its own Facebook page.
“Most often, we use the [Facebook] page to keep in touch with the public in order to maintain a positive relationship with them; however, in the case of bigger incidents, getting information out in a timely manner to our residents and surrounding communities can be crucial to the success of our mission,” said Susan McKnight, with the Upper Gwynedd Police Department. “Losing our Facebook page is losing over 4,000 contacts in our community.”
McKnight said that due to the page’s recent growth, Facebook requested additional registration and transparency of ownership measures, which lead to a series of errors and issues that ultimately caused the department to no longer have access to their page. As the department continues to find a solution to the problem — be it regaining control of their page or creating an entirely new one — their main concern is being able to stay in contact with their residents, especially in the event of a major incident.
Enter the Upper Gwynedd Township Police Department’s Crimewatch page.
Though the police department has made light usage of their Crimewatch page since its launch, McKnight said it will now serve as their primary means of disseminating information electronically to the public…at least until they’re back on Facebook. For those unfamiliar with Crimewatch pages, police are able to provide information on active incidents, recent arrests, requests for assistance on open cases and more.
The platform also allows for breaking news alerts sent via email, and provides additional space for department news and community interactions.
The Crimewatch platform is widely used in neighboring Bucks County, but in Montgomery County, only a handful of police departments have signed on to the service. In the North Penn area, the only departments to currently use the platform are the Upper Gwynedd Township Police Department and the Hatfield Township Police Department.
In addition to the Crimewatch page, residents are also encouraged to follow the Upper Gwynedd Township Police Department on Twitter.
See also:
Upper Gwynedd Township Police Receive Distinction As Premier Accredited Law Enforcement Agency
Man Who Shot At Cops ID’d, Facing Attempted Murder Charges: Police
Upper Gwynedd Police Launch Camera Registry for Residents
Upper Gwynedd Police Seeking to Hire Full-Time Police Officer
Photos: Tour of Upper Gwynedd Township Police Station
