Today in TechSeattle Police post every emergency call on Twitter, annoy thousands of followers
I don't think anyone would dispute that police officers have one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs around, but to give a taste of just what a day in the life of the Seattle Police Department is like, the officers conducted an experiment. For one day, every incoming emergency call was posted on the official Seattle PD Twitter account for all to see. What the department found was that while some residents showed genuine interest in the daily goings-on of those who protect and serve, some simply didn't want to read it on their Twitter feeds.
The department posted small text blurbs for each of its 911 calls, with the exception of domestic violence and child abuse claims, deemed them too personal and sensitive. Most of the updates — which approached one per minute at times — were mundane traffic stops, though a few bordered on bizarre. For example, "Suspicious person possibly armed with sword," was a favorite of the department's nearly 10,000 followers.
As the day dragged on, some Twitter followers who originally found the updates fun and informative began to change their tone. Many made a show of unfollowing the Seattle PD account, claiming their feeds were being cluttered with unnecessary updates. The department stopped tweeting the frequent blurbs at 6 p.m. and returned to its normal and much less frequent Twitter update routine. While the department had hoped to raise awareness of the crucial role the public plays in identifying and reporting crimes, the immediate results appear to show that some Twitter users would rather remain in the dark.
Seattle Police Department via New York Times
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