Police Using Twitter

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Updated: 11:11 PM Apr 13, 2009 Police Using Twitter MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Milwaukee's police department is one of a growing number of police and fire agencies turning to social networking Web sites such as Twitter. Posted: 9:45 PM Apr 13, 2009

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MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Milwaukee's police department is one of a growing number of police and fire agencies turning to social networking Web sites such as Twitter.

Some departments use it to alert people to traffic disruptions or offer crime prevention tips. Others encourage leads on more pressing matters like wildfires.

One risk of police relying on Twitter is that anyone can claim to be the cops, and then disseminate misinformation. In March, the Texas attorney general's office contacted Twitter to shut down a phony account called "Austin PD."

Craig Mitnick is founder of Nixle, a company that offers a secure service for public agencies to broadcast updates. He says Web sites like Twitter are not meant for trusted information.

Milwaukee police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz says anyone concerned about their posts can call the department. She says most of its posts direct readers back to the police Web site.

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