By Madina Toure
The NYPD will be formally launching a new social media program this April at the Police Academy in College Point, where the 109th Precinct will be the first precinct to take part in the pilot program.
The program will be announced by Zach Tumin, the NYPD’s deputy commissioner for strategic initiatives, at the precinct’s monthly community council meeting at the Police Academy April 8, at 7:30 p.m., said Chrissy Voskerichian, the council’s president.
Although the precinct does not have specific details on the social media program, Voskerichian said it is a community-based program that would give residents in the precinct’s area the opportunity to voice their concerns.
“It’s just a new way of communication, finding out information, sharing ideas,” Voskerichian said. “You may have an idea that would be good for the NYPD, for the community, or both.”
Interested individuals would sign up through a link and answer survey questions prepared by the NYPD tailored to their neighborhoods, Voskerichian explained. The issues would be categorized according to the neighborhood in which the resident resides.
Crime has overall been dramatically down over the last 30 days, she said.
Voskerichian said the new social media program is indicative of growing efforts to connect the police to the community.
“There’s just a lot of good things happening from a community-police perspective,” she said. “There’s so much engagement.”
Reach reporter Madina Toure by e-mail at mtour
