Social media is quickly becoming an information tool for public safety and the comm center. Case in point: This week, the Seattle Police Department has begun using Twitter to disseminate information about stolen vehicles. The new protocol directly affects 9-1-1 center personnel, who have the task of tweeting the information. The goals of the protocol are to reduce auto theft by increasing the pressure on thieves and to help the victims get their cars back sooner.

According to a Seattle Times article, the first tweet was sent at 2:28 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 1, regarding a stolen brown, 1984 four-door Toyota Camry with a Washington license plate. The tweet was sent by Dispatch Supervisor Gary Raymond.

The use of Twitter to get information is not new to the department or to public safety. Seattle PD regularly updates its main Twitter page (http://twitter.com/seattlepd) with incident-related information. (Click here for more on how agencies are using social media for public outreach.)

The department outlines the protocol in an online statement. When a car is formally reported stolen, which includes signed paperwork from the owner, dispatchers tweet the color, year, make, model, body style and license plate of the car. The message appears on the Get Your Car Back Web site at http://twitter.com/getyourcarback and can be viewed by the department’s 6,980 followers on Twitter. If a follower sees the car, they are encouraged to dial 9-1-1. 

According to the department’s statement, “All 9-1-1 calls will be screened to ensure the car’s information matches and verify that the car hasn’t been returned to its rightful owner. If the car is still listed as stolen, the information will be broadcast so that officers can respond to the area.”

Seattle Chief John Diaz says, “I believe that this program will integrate seamlessly into our strategy to prevent and reduce auto theft in Seattle. It will also serve to increase public awareness on the subject.”  

Since the system went live yesterday, the Seattle PD 9-1-1 Center has tweeted about three other stolen cars. According to the protocol, once a car is recovered, a follow-up tweet will not be issued.

Related Links

• The Seattle Police Department
• The Seattle Police Department on Twitter
• “Your stolen vehicle may be just a tweet away,” by Sara Jean Green, The Seattle Times.
• “9-1-1 Friend Request: Social media’s role in public safety,” by Bob Smith, Public Safety Communications.