Out of curiosity as to how municipalities are starting to use Twitter, I started following the Boston Police Department over the weekend. I consider it the Internet equivalent of getting a police scanner at Radio Shack. This morning I got this direct message from the BPD:
I’d like to think we’re smarter than that as a society, but I’m entertaining bets as to when The Smoking Gun will report an attempt to inform police of a crime in progress via Twitter. This makes me think of this April 2008 story of the kid who used Twitter to get out of an Egyptian jail (and thanks to Jonathan Zittrain for providing that anecdote at Berkman@10).
Update: once again, Universal Hub has blasted my hit counts into the stratosphere. Thanks, Adam.
Have you ever tried calling 911 on a cell phone? My bet is twittering them would get you faster results.
DM @Boston_Police: been shot. don’t know who by. maybe my bff jill? total nonlol. i can haz ambluanz? k thx by.
Comment by Sussman — 16 March 2009 @ 3:48 pm |
My only problem with this post is that you should never, ever buy anything at Radio Shack
Comment by william — 16 March 2009 @ 4:20 pm |
it’s not so bad: *77 (*SP, or “state police”) and then as soon as someone picks up you ask to be transferred to your city’s dispatch. The few times I’ve ever had to do that it’s been fine. Calling in DC, however, might be more interesting…
And William: good point.
Comment by Andy — 16 March 2009 @ 4:36 pm |
@Sussman ROTFL
Seriously though, I was quite impressed by the BPD using twitter to report traffic situations and even a lost girl during St. Patrick’s Day on Twitter. I can understand why they can’t quite rely on Twitter, but perhaps they should set up a text messaging number for silent reports. Could be useful during bank robberies, domestic violence, kidnappings etc when you don’t want anyone to hear you talking to the police.
Comment by Adam Pieniazek — 16 March 2009 @ 5:39 pm |
Hi Adam,
They have such a service, kinda. Boston Homicide allows you to text to “CRIME” (27463) to give BPD anonymous info re: investigations.
Comment by Andy — 16 March 2009 @ 5:42 pm |
Regarding 911 calls: if you live in Boston, put the number 617-343-4911 into your cellphone’s phonebook. That number gets you directly to Boston emergency dispatch, without having to go through the State Police.
Comment by Jeremy — 16 March 2009 @ 10:15 pm |
the BPD’s got nothin on the Natural History Museum Whale twitters… this one made me think of you: “Sometimes, when listening to Phish, I feel like I’m underwater again (for the very first time). Thanks effects pedals. #phish”
http://twitter.com/NatHistoryWhale
Comment by Michelle — 17 March 2009 @ 3:37 pm |
Reminds me of one of my favorites (that I actually stopped following as the updates were too frequent):
http://twitter.com/publicdomain
Moby Dick. 140 characters at a time.
Comment by Andy — 17 March 2009 @ 3:43 pm |
[...] under: followup, snarkbutter, washingtondc — Andy @ 7:40 am On Monday I poked a little fun a direct message I received from Boston Police via Twitter. Not to be outdone, DC’s emergency information network AlertDC sent the following [...]
Pingback by DC’s fog advice: “add_protective_actions_here.” « Andy on the Road — 18 March 2009 @ 7:40 am |
Good to know, thanks Andy for the text # and Jeremy for the direct BPD line. Now to be extra careful to not drunk dial them by accident!
Comment by Adam Pieniazek — 18 March 2009 @ 9:13 am |