Software portal keeps residents informed and increases police transparency
Background
Oceanside is a beach community located 39 miles north of San Diego with a population of more than 175,000. Oceanside Police Department (OPD) has 219 sworn officers and handles approximately 110,000 calls a year that are dispatched through the Police Department Communications Center.
The Need
Law enforcement has faced a great deal of public scrutiny in recent years. As a result, many departments are making a conscious effort to increase transparency and open the lines of communications with the community. OPD has made great strides in this area including hiring a full-time public information officer, holding community meetings, implementing a neighborhood policing team, broadcasting on local media, and engaging with citizens on social media. “Now more than ever, it’s so important that we find creative ways to share information and help keep our residents more informed,” says Jennifer A. Atenza, Public Information Officer, Oceanside Police Department. “Our department is really proactive about engaging with the community.”
