BY MIKE CETERA
One day after announcing a new system to alert residents to crime, the Aurora Police Department on Wednesday sent out its first bulletin.
The alert, announcing the murder of a 23-year-old Aurora man, was sent via the Web-based Citizen Observer network.
By logging on to www.citizenobserver.com, Aurora residents, in a matter of seconds, can sign up for alerts and other information that is disseminated via the department's Community Policing Division and approved by Police Chief Bill Powell. The news can be tailored to specific areas of the city, neighborhood groups and businesses as needed, and can also contain mug shots, security photos and Web links, said Dan Ferrelli, Aurora police spokesman.The information will contain contact information so that citizens can forward any helpful tips directly to the authorities -- anonymously if they wish.
This is an interesting way to reach out to the community for information, although I wonder if the department will be able to reach people who aren't already consuming media. An updated story on the murder -- largely culled from the same department press release -- was posted on The Beacon News Web site hours before the Citizen Observer e-mail was sent. I'll be curious to see how use of this tool evolves over time and if the department can be successful in sending targeted messages to specific geographic areas. That might be particularly helpful in a breaking or ongoing situation.
Twenty-one Illinois departments belong to the Citizen Observer network, including the Carpentersville and South Elgin police departments.
Leave a comment