Behind the Badge
The Anaheim Police Department is partnering with a social networking website designed specifically for residents in neighborhoods to communicate with each other and the police.
Anaheim PD will use the site, called Nextdoor, to post information such as crime alerts, safety tips, and community meetings to Nextdoor users within the city.
Residents and police will be able to work together to improve safety and create virtual neighborhood watch campaigns, said Sgt. Daron Wyatt, police spokesman.
“We are committed to engaging our community through innovative means to increase safety for our residents,” Wyatt said.
Private Nextdoor sites already have been started in 82 Anaheim neighborhoods, the sergeant said.
The site also can be used to announce community events and activities, local services and put out alerts for lost pets.
Photo courtesy of Nextdoor
Creating a Nextdoor neighborhood is free and is password protected, only accessible to residents who verify they live in the neighborhood.
While the police can post information, they will only be able to see their own posts and replies to their posts.
Police won’t be able to see or access information on any Nextdoor site.
“Your Nextdoor website remains completely private to you and your neighbors,” Wyatt said.
Photo courtesy of Nextdoor
Those interested in joining their neighborhood’s Nextdoor site should go to nextdoor.com.
Users can also download the network app for their iPhones or Android devices.
Questions can be answered at help.nextdoor.com.
