CPD launches Nextdoor for neighborhoods

Last week, the Canton Police Department officially launched the Nextdoor program, a free, private social network for neighborhoods. The CPD is one of the first local agencies to launch this program.

Police Chief Ken Berkowitz said through his department Twitter account that the Nextdoor for Public Agencies program allows the CPD to communicate neighborhood-specific updates “in an effort to better serve you, to help foster community building, and to facilitate virtual neighborhood watch.”

“Nextdoor is a tool for us to effectively share crime prevention and safety updates, free events, and emergency notifications,” Berkowitz said. “You can expect to receive hyperlocal crime and safety updates from the Canton Police Department on Nextdoor, but your Nextdoor website is still kept private to only those who live in the neighborhood and who have a verified address.”

Berkowitz said messages from the Police Department will be filtered in the “City Agency” tab on the left-hand navigation bar. Although he said this is a great information tool, he advised that
Nextdoor should not be considered the appropriate way to request emergency services, police services, report criminal or suspicious activity, file a police report, etc.

“If you require emergency services, please call 911,” he said. “We do not monitor Nextdoor 24/7.”

Officer Rob Quirk, who worked on the project for the CPD, said residents can go to www.nextdoorcom to establish a neighborhood or to be a team leader for the neighborhood. The only requirement is that one has to verify residency.

The department launched Nextdoor last week and 300 residents have already logged on to establish residency, including 80 in the last week alone. Quirk said some residents were already on the site prior to the official CPD launching.

Quirk said some large neighborhoods have been established such as York Street, the Reservoir Pond area off Pleasant Street, and Cedarcrest Road, but smaller neighborhood groups can be established within the larger group.

Quirk believes the Nextdoor program will be a great benefit to the department while allowing for more interaction among residents. Quirk said the Braintree Police Department has already implemented the program and has reported great success.

Quirk emphasized that the CPD will not have any access to individual postings. He added that the program can be used as an app and downloaded so the CPD information can be sent to a mobile phone.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=31605

Posted by Mike Berger on Nov 25 2015. Filed under News, Police & Fire. Both comments and pings are currently closed.