Costa Mesa Police Department launches Facebook page

The Costa Mesa Police Department announced this week the launch of its own Facebook page, which is meant to provide the latest information on crime trends and prevention.

“Our chief is very big on getting information out to the public as quickly and effectively as possible,” Kelly Vucinic, a CMPD crime prevention specialist who oversees social media and communication projects within the department, said Wednesday. “Having a Facebook page is just one more tool for us to use. The more content we put out, the better.”

In addition to posting crime trends and tips on how to avoid becoming a victim, the page will broadcast traffic delays, road closures, department press releases, public service announcements and upcoming programs and events.

Vucinic, who launched the Police Department’s bi-monthly newsletter Kelly’s Crime Corner last month, said the page will eventually be linked to from the department’s website.

Though the Facebook page has existed since October, the department did not claim ownership of it until May, and did not start posting on it until June.

“Having this Facebook presence is all part of the department’s broader goal to increase communication to the public,” she said. “We’re going to employ as many ways to get necessary information out there as possible.”

Police Chief Tom Gazsi brought the Crime Prevention office back into operation in February to increase public communication and put Vucinic in charge of the endeavor.

Kelly’s Crime Corner and the Facebook page are two of several efforts he spearheaded this year to increase the flow of information to the community.

According to department staff, a Twitter account is also on the horizon.

Vulcinic noted that Facebook visitors will be able to comment on posts, though they will not be able to post their own content to the page for security reasons. Comments will be monitored and removed if inappropriate.

She and Crime Analyst Holly Carver will be managing and updating the page, though comments and questions on it should be directed to the department’s public information office.

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