Swampscott cops using new free communications system

SWAMPSCOTT – Police are taking community policing to the 21st century, unveiling a new free system that allows them to send alerts and messages to residents via cell phone, e-mail and text message to increase public safety.”It’s more timely, we can put out (information) instantly,” said Police Chief Ronald Madigan. “We anticipate the ability to send out texts and e-mails that will provide us with additional eyes, say if we’re looking for somebody suffering from dementia or trying to identify people involved in a larceny or a break-in. We think this will be a nice tool.”Swampscott Police have issued crime alerts, safety tips and other community messages to residents via email for several years, but only to those residents who provided their e-mail addresses to Det. Ted Delano.Madigan said that this effort has received positive feedback, but the new Nixle system offers expanded capability.Alerts from multiple public agencies can be sent via e-mail as well as text message to registered users. Messages are also uploaded to a website in real time.Recipients can also prioritize different types of messages so that they can be delivered via different methods, Madigan said.For example, a user can have reports of recent crime or advisories delivered via text message, while safety tips are distributed via e-mail.Madigan said that the system won’t replace the town’s community connect system, which sends out messages to every land-line in Swampscott, but offers another way to increase communication among the police and residents. But first citizens have to sign up. Registration is available via the Swampscott Police website, www.swampscottpolice.com, and the Nixle website, www.nixle.com.”We’re always looking for a way to communicate better with residents,” Madigan said. “We can’t be more successful than if we prevent someone from being a victim.”