The Tyrone Police Department has launched a new high-tech Community Information Service (CIS) platform designed to deliver important and timely information to residents. Created by Nixle, LLC, the free service delivers reliable neighborhood-level public safety and community event notifications by web, e-mail, and cell phone text messages. Tyrone is one of only 16 law enforcement agencies in the United States to go live with the service.

“The Tyrone Police Department began a proactive effort to keep its citizens informed on matters of public safety in February 2008 by establishing an email newsletter dubbed the ‘Town Crier.’ The agency has used the Town Crier to send severe weather alerts, crime prevention tips, and updates on its activities to its members,” said Chief Brandon Perkins. “However, the system was lacking in that it only provides the ability to send email messages and the agency wanted to offer its citizens more options. So we began searching for better options. Enter Nixle.com, a new community information system that allows agencies to post their messages via email, text messages, and on-line.”

Perkins said the new platform will have numerous practical applications. In one example, Perkins cited a resident listening to his iPod as he drives home from work in Atlanta. Though he may miss the message about Ga. Highway 74 being shut down, he would receive a notice of the closure through a text message on his cell phone. Similar alerts can be used to target geographical areas. If a child goes missing or if an evacuation is ordered, for example, police can enter the address and select a radius for broadcasting needed information.

“If the town were placed under a tornado warning in the middle of the night, many of our citizens would not likely hear our sirens and it’s quite possible that most do not have a weather radios, so they would obviously be in danger,” Perkins said, citing a further example of the use of the CIS platform. “With text notifications, our on duty supervisor could immediately post the weather alert and send it to our member's cell phones, increasing the possibility that more people are notified of the danger. We don't expect most of our citizens will sleep with their cell phone by the bed, but the option is there if they choose.”

Though other community service programs are available on a fee basis, Perkins said Nixle is provided at no cost to law enforcement agencies and is backed by partnerships with several national professional organizations such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff's Association, the Police Executive Research Forum, and the National Emergency Management Association.

Nixle’s Matt Metcalf said while hundreds of agencies in the nation are using the company’s CIS as a demonstration project, Tyrone is only the 16th law enforcement agency in the country to take it live.

Nixle is a community information service provider built exclusively to provide secure and reliable communications. It is the first authenticated and secure service that connects municipal agencies and community organizations to residents in real time, delivering information to geographically targeted consumers over their cell phones (via text messages), through e-mails and via Web access.

Perkins said that more than 100 Tyrone residents have signed up for the new service and suggested that others consider doing so. Those interested can visit www.nixle.com to register.

“Registration requires members to enter their home address or closest intersection. We do not receive this information. It is required so that we can target our messages if necessary. Non-residents may sign up by entering Senoia Road and Arrowood Road as their closest intersection since that is basically the center of town,” Perkins said.

Perkins said Nixle has secured a partnership with Nlets (the International Justice and Public Safety Network), allowing local police departments nationwide to send immediate alerts and advisories. Privately-funded Nixle, which has offices in New Jersey and California, is free to all governments, their agencies and organizations, nongovernmental organizations and consumers. For more information visit www.nixle.com

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