"We have multiple officers involved in this initiative because we want to stay on top of this."

"We’re getting additional hits on a daily basis, and while our followers have grown to over 8,000 collectively, we know there are a whole lot more folks in Dallas to reach. We don’t want this to die down."

Nixle and Twitter are text message oriented, while Facebook and YouTube offer more in-depth online communication.

Nixle involves a simple registration, and once signed up, any alerts sent by the DPD via Nixle also go to folks signed on with Twitter.

In the case of Facebook, one need only add the DPD as a friend.

With YouTube, upon entering "Dallas Police Department" in a search, users will find 37 different videos.

Janse says that several arrests have been made thanks to information received directly from viewers of YouTube videos.

"YouTube has shown definite results. Facebook, Twitter and Nixle are more one-way communication," he says.

"But there are still ways the public can respond to us if they have information, and we’re heading in that direction, with plans to initiate a website."

The next Quarterly Crime Summit is scheduled for the end of October and Lt. Perez wants citizen input for the agenda.

"I respond to my emails within 24 hours," she says. "I’d love to hear from you."

For more information about the Quarterly Crime Summits or to get your name added to the email notification list, contact Neighborhood Policing Officer Mitch Gatson, 214.671.0160.

For more information on the DPD’s Social Networking Services, contact Cpl. Kevin Janse in Media Relations at 214.671.4065.

To learn more about the Northeast Crime Watch and the many programs and events within the Division, visit the NE Crime Watch website here or the Dallas Police online here.