The Dalton Police Department is making it easier for citizens with smart phones to interact with the agency through the use of a new smart phone app. The app, called “MyPD” is available free of charge now through both the Apple iTunes and Google Play stores.
The smart phone app is the department’s latest effort to reach citizens through the internet. The DPD has operated a blog site and social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for several years. The new app is designed to make it easier for mobile users to reach the department’s social media services on the go and also give users better access to the department for questions and crime tips.
The app also gives users the option to receive push notifications either from the department’s Twitter feed or direct messages sent from the police department.
“People are more mobile now than ever before,” said Chief Jason Parker. “It just makes sense to reach them wherever they are. From passing on general information to sending some sort of alert, people are far more likely to have a cell phone handy than a laptop.”
The MyPD app was developed for law enforcement agencies by a company called Wired Blue, and Dalton is one of seven agencies in the state of Georgia to use the app to improve communication with residents. Using the app is another layer of the agency’s strategy to communicate with residents. The department still works with local media outlets such as newspapers and television news outlets. The use of the internet, social media, and the new app can give Dalton residents more access to news and information from the department and also give users the chance to send information back to the agency.
“There was a time when people only got their information from network news or the local paper, but these days citizens are looking for a way to connect when it’s convenient for them,” said Chief Parker. “It’s also a way for us to give a more detailed picture of work because traditional media sources may not have time or space to devote to smaller details. Our officers and staff do a great job, and having more avenues of communication lets us tell our story.”
To use the app, iPhone or Android users should search “My PD” in their respective app stores. Once the app is downloaded, open the app and select the “Dalton Police Department” from the menu. Users can either create a profile to use the app or use it as a guest. Users can choose if they want to receive alerts from the department and also edit those preferences at any time.
“We won’t be sending a ton of push notifications,” said Bruce Frazier, the department’s public relations specialist. “We do tweet on a regular basis, and you can choose to be alerted anytime we tweet and see those messages even if you don’t have a Twitter account. But as far as sending other alerts, we’ll keep that to the important messages.”
In addition to notifications, the app has other features such as a tab that allows users to submit questions to the agency, commend an officer, and also view crime maps and the department’s news site. There’s a guide with contact information for department leaders and a secure link that allows users to anonymously submit crime tip information. The developer has built in many different options for department users, so the app may change frequently with new features.
“I think the fact you can see all of our social media and news feeds in one place on a tablet or smart phone is the most useful feature,” said Captain Cliff Cason, one of the officers who took part in the development process for the new app. “It is also very customizable which allows us to change the appearance quickly.”
The app is presented to users as a free download and is free to use. All the information on the app is hosted and maintained by Wired Blue, which maintains the app for a charge of $60 a month to the department.
“We’re hoping to get a lot of people downloading and using the app and giving us feedback,” Mr. Frazier said. “It’s a neat tool and hopefully Dalton will like it.”
“Back when we started our website and then connected with social media, it was the big thing of the day. These apps help us put a lot of information at the tips of your fingers, and hopefully people will see it as a no-cost way to help us do a better job for them,” Chief Parker said. “This will keep us on the cutting edge, but we are always looking for the next advantage.”