| The use of social media as a means of communication among law enforcement agencies and the community is growing in popularity. The implementation of social media outreach may represent an effective and cost efficient means of enhancing community policing. Research addressing this topic in the United States, however, is limited, and the efficacy of using social media to inform, prevent, and solve crimes, is unknown. This research explores the methods and means of employing social media in policing using qualitative semi-structured interviews with law enforcement personnel. The study examines how police departments utilize the social media platform Twitter as an effector of positive relations between community and law enforcement officials. Moreover, the current research seeks to answer questions regarding the propagation of information to the public though Twitter, as well as examine the perceived effectiveness of such platforms as tools in community policing. |
