The Park Ridge Police Department announced a partnership with neighborhood-based social network website Nextdoor in order to build stronger and safer communities with the help of residents.
Integration with the free and private social network give police the ability to communicate online with Park Ridge residents, according to the department.
Residents and police will be able to work together to increase safety and strengthen a virtual neighborhood watch.
“This partnership with Nextdoor gives neighbors an easy way to not only get to know each other, but develop stronger relationships with our department,” Chief of Police Frank Kaminski said. “We believe that building trust and constant communication channels will lead to stronger and safer neighborhoods.”
Nextdoor has been adopted locally and nationally, with more than 40 percent of neighborhoods across the country using the service.
Park Ridge residents can use Nextdoor to create private neighborhood websites to share information, including neighborhood public safety issues, community events and activities, local services, and even lost pets.
The Park Ridge police will be able to share helpful information with Nextdoor members, such as important crime alerts, emergency notifications, safety precautions and tips, details for events and crime watch meetings, and updates on activity affecting the local area to Nextdoor websites within Park Ridge.
However, the police department said it will not be able to access residents’ websites, contact information or content. Nextdoor is free for residents and the police department. Each Park Ridge neighborhood has its own private Nextdoor neighborhood website, accessible only to residents of that neighborhood.
Neighborhoods establish and self-manage their own Nextdoor website.
All members must verify that they live within the neighborhood before joining Nextdoor. Information shared on Nextdoor is password protected and cannot be accessed by Google or other search engines.
Those interested in joining their neighborhood’s Nextdoor website can visit www.nextdoor.com and enter their address.
If residents have questions about their Nextdoor website, visit help.nextdoor.com or contact officer Ben Peterson at 847-318-5233.