PORT TOWNSEND — Two local public safety agencies have taken new public relations initiatives seeking to inform people of their activities and provide emergency information.
The Port Townsend Police Department has published its Report to the Community 2011, which provides several safety tips while providing individual profiles and pictures of each officer.
At the same time, East Jefferson Fire-Rescue has started an incident blog, where people can log on to receive updates of any action in progress.
The blog will be viewable from the agency’s website, www.ejfr.org.
During an emergency, a red light will flash on the page’s upper right hand corner. Clicking on the light will lead people directly to the latest emergency information.
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue spokesman Bill Beezley said the blog would be used at times when incidents last more than a few hours when the public requires continuous updates about the situation.
“The lines between the media and the public are blurring, so we want to find the best way to get the most current information out,” Beezley said.
The police department report was produced by the Peninsula Daily News and distributed in the Sept. 4 edition of the paper.
In addition to those in the paper, 5,000 copies were printed and are available at the police station at Mountain View Commons, 1925 Blaine St., Port Townsend.
Sgt. Ed Green said the reports will help connect the police to the public.
“This is a small community, and it is good to make people aware of who is on the force,” he said.
“By reading about each individual officer, you get an idea about the person behind the uniform,” he added.
Green said many officers are involved in community activities, which are listed in the report.
The last community report was published four years ago when the department was located downtown in what is now the Cotton Building.
The department has wanted to update the report but hasn’t had the budget, Green said.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.