The Dalton Police Department has launched a version of its Facebook page to improve communication with residents who speak Spanish as their primary language. The Spanish-language version can be found at facebook.com/policiadedalton or by searching for “Departamento de Policia de Dalton.”
The Dalton Police Department’s primary Facebook page (facebook.com/DaltonPolice) has more than 12,000 followers and has become one of the agency’s main methods of communication with Dalton residents.
In addition to posting updates on crime information or agency activities, the page has also become an avenue for residents to contact the agency privately through direct messages with questions, concerns or tips about criminal activity in Dalton. The agency hopes that opening a new way for people who primarily speak Spanish to interact with the agency online will increase communication with that group.
“The city of Dalton has a very diverse population,” said Assistant Chief Cliff Cason. “The most recent census information places the Hispanic population at approximately 47%. If we don’t take steps to get our message to the Spanish speaking community, we are missing nearly half of the community we serve.”
The agency’s three-year strategic plan (online at daltonpd.com/strategic-plan) includes a goal of improving external communication with the community. Creating a new way to reach residents who speak Spanish is another step towards accomplishing that goal.
“We have to adapt to the current demographics of the community we serve,” Chief Cason said. “Utilizing social media in both an English and Spanish format will allow us to reach a broader group. It will help show the Spanish speaking community that they are important to us.”
DPD officers and staff fluent in Spanish will translate posts from the main DPD Facebook page and post them on the Spanish version. They will also monitor the page for private messages, but just like the English version, the Spanish page will not be monitored 24 hours a day. For immediate assistance and emergency situations, residents should still call 911 and not attempt to communicate through social media.