PRESS RELEASE:
To get information to the community as quickly as possible, the Kansas City Missouri Police Department is launching a text message alert system with Nixle.
Nixle Connect allows the department to instantly inform residents of current public safety issues via text/SMS, e-mail, Internet posts, and Twitter. The service is provided at no cost to the department, taxpayers, or residents.
Communications from the KCPD will range from emergency alerts such as Amber Alerts and critical incidents to routine day-to-day information such as violent crime suspects being sought, a burglary pattern, a major traffic incident, or other relevant information to residents.
“With Nixle, citizens can be aware of the current safety issues in their neighborhood,” Chief Darryl Forté said. “Informed citizens can be our eyes and ears, helping us solve and prevent crime.”
Kansas City residents can sign up to receive free, real-time safety information by texting their zip code or “KCPD” to 888777 or by visiting www.nixle.com. Once registered, users can customize the types of alerts they wish to receive via text, email, and online. Any information users submit is housed on secure Nixle servers and remains anonymous to police staff.
“Additionally, Kansas City will play host to the 2012 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game in July,” continued Forté. “Nixle Connect provides us with a way to communicate with the tens of thousands of baseball fans who will be attending to keep traffic and people flowing as smoothly as possible, as well as a means to deliver any urgent messages should an emergency arise.”
To receive All Star Game-specific messages, text “ALLSTARKC” to 888777.
More than 4,800 government agencies nationwide have adopted Nixle for their means of real-time communications with residents, and more than 700,000 citizens have signed up to take advantage of the service.
“Nixle is an easy, quick and secure mass notification tool for public safety officials to communicate information to the public across multiple channels,” stated Eric Liu, Nixle’s CEO. “Both residents and visitors to Kansas City can benefit greatly from the service.”
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org.
