Gainesville PD connects to public via Facebook

GAINESVILLE - A number of other law enforcement agencies are using Facebook as a way to communicate with citizens, and now the Gainesville Police Department has joined the ranks.

Gainesville Police Cpl. Kevin Holbrook said the department researched the idea carefully before taking the plunge, noting that law enforcement has to comply with certain policies and procedures that a regular Facebook user does not.

He noted that 1 out of every 13 people, or almost 72% of US internet users have Facebook accounts. With numbers that high, Holbrook said it made sense to use Facebook to connect to Gainesville citizens.

"We can get this information out in real time, and it allows for two-way communication between the department and community," said Holbrook.

The Gainesville Police Department's Facebook page has been operational since Friday.





Link: GPD Facebook page