DSP LAUNCHES NIXLE

The Delaware State Police is pleased to announce a new and very exciting program to our agency called Nixle.

Nixle is a FREE service to the DSP that utilizes the latest in electronic network distribution- specifically email and text messaging. Late last year, the division saw a need to greater meet the needs of the public and the media alike by finding a way to broadcast our messages, alerts and news releases using up to date technology and Nixle fit that bill.

How it works...

According to Nixle.com, "Local, county, state, and federal public safety agencies, municipal governments and affiliated municipal governmental agencies (e.g., police, fire, emergency management, local government, schools, hospitals, public works, and recreation departments) can register to Nixle to send Alerts, Advisories, Community information, and Traffic information. The information from all these “official” agencies appear online at www.nixle.com. All Alert type messages are automatically received by residents on their cell phones by text message. Residents have the option to also receive Advisory, Community, and Traffic messages by text message and email, as well as over the web."

Furthermore, Nixle.com says, "All official agency information appears online at www.nixle.com under 'The Municipal Wire.' The Municipal Wire only presents information from agencies that enroll and are then identity certified through Nixle’s National Identity Certification Program. This identity certification process ensures all information sent by official agencies is authentic and trusted. Trusted official community information from government agencies, police departments, fire departments, other public safety agencies, schools, hospitals, and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) is critical to residents of every community throughout the country. Nixle prides itself on providing this set of information in the most trusted and reliable way. "

Why should media representatives register with Nixle? This program ensures reporters and assignment personnel receive news stories from the State Police. There are many documented instances where a PIO representative may have sent out a news release, however, for reasons out of the control of the sender and receiver, the message did not make it from one party to another. Nixle will supplement the traditional email form of the news release by sending a text message to the concerned party's cell phone and also to their email. Additionally, there is an archive system in place at the Nixle web site so one can go online and look for news releases that may not have come through in any form.

This is useful for a reporter in the field who has access to their cell phone, but not their email. A Nixle alert will be sent to their cell phone keeping them informed of news stories while they are out and about.

The user has control. As a registered user of Nixle.com, one can decide how they wish to receive messages and also during what times. For someone who does not wish to use text messaging, they can turn off this feature on their Nixle profile. They can also chose which type of information they want to receive via email. Thus, in the end, a user can simply use their Nixle.com account, again which is FREE, to view and check for news stories they may not have received in the traditional email format from one of DSP's PIO's.

This method of receiving news stories is great for media interns too. They can register themselves on Nixle.com and also receive news releases.

This program is not only for the media. The public can receive these alerts as well. This helps to keep them informed and apprised of DSP News. One other feature that citizens may find useful is the ability for parents from other states, whose children go to school or college in Delaware, to also register with Nixle.com. They can simply use their child's address here in the first state to register and start receiving news stories and alerts from the State Police.

Important facts:
DSP news releases will continue to be sent out via the traditional method, however, this method will now be supplemented by Nixle.
The system is not set up for land lines.
To receive Delaware news, the user must use a Delaware address. Any address will do.
The system is free to use, however, standard text messaging rates may apply depending on one's carrier and cell phone plan.

Register today at www.nixle.com and select the green button that says, “RESIDENTS-> SIGN UP NOW!.”