LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Lititz Borough Police Department has a new text-based initiative.
Detective Sergeant Stephen Detz says the program aims to enhance the connection between officers and residents.
“There’s a couple of things we’d like to accomplish with this, we’d like to see if there are areas where we can improve our services but then to also show our officers that ‘Hey, the community does appreciate the things that you provide them’,” Detz said.
The department partnered with Power Engage, a software that measures satisfaction and sends message updates to those enrolled.
Officers use similar software for other purposes.
However, police want to emphasize this new program is not an alternative way to report a crime or emergency.
“This is an after-the-fact text-based communication and to gauge whether or not the community is satisfied with the services that we provide,” Detz said.
The department will only send text messages to people whose phone numbers were recorded during emergency service calls.
People can either provide feedback or text STOP to opt out of future messages.
An after-hours mode will help make sure people are not contacted after a specific time.
Personal data will not be required to use the program.
Participants will have the option to fill out a three-question survey.
“On a scale of 1 to 5 how satisfied were you with the services provided; would you like to provide feedback; and then the last question is would you like somebody from the department to follow up with you based on your feedback,” Detz described.
“If we have that option at our fingertips, we’re going to use it,” said Ashley Daggett with Brick Heads.
Although Dagget hasn’t reported an emergency for some time, she says it’s important for a community to communicate with itself.
“If we ever have any need for those types of services, we will definitely be sure to use those services, I think it’s important to have that open communication in the community for sure,” Daggett said.
The program is expected to continue slowly being introduced to residents.