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This is a must download: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/citywork/police/VirtualBlockClubs.ppt This morning I e-mailed Luther Krueger with the Minneapolis Police Department. I suggested that he share a 400 word essay with DO-WIRE about efforts in Minneapolis to use online tools for crime prevention. In record DO-WIRE essay submission time, below is his essay. Steven Clift Democracies Online http://www.e-democracy.org/do ------- Forwarded message follows ------- From: "Krueger, Luther" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Essay Date sent: Thu, 2 May 2002 11:15:27 -0500 We moderate an interactive email list for crime prevention in the Downtown Command with the Minneapolis Police Department ("Governments Using Forums to Serve Public Purposes - Cyber CrimePrevention" <http://www.mail-archive.com/do-wire@tc.umn.edu/msg00459.html>, April 24). As with most email forums, we allow our subscribers--members of the community--to post. We focus on crime-related topics Downtown. Participants can post: Suspect pictures from security cameras, crime stats and maps, questions about crime patterns or specific procedures in reporting and addressing various crimes, traffic advisories, and notices for meetings of interest to our community partners. Our community partners are often surprised that so much information can be shared; many in law enforcement remain apprehensive about sharing information even though it's considered public by statute. But we know that participants come up with longer-term solutions when they know more about the crimes they are concerned about--truly, "Information is Power". Further, our power as a police department is not diminished, so long as the information shared does not jeopardize on-going investigations. Finally, the MPD stockpiles tons of information that may or may not be released to the public. But the private sector--property managers, security personnel, workers, residents--often has as much or more information which they are not bound by law to keep under wraps. And when the community's alerts, and inquiries are posted side-by-side with our notes, they know that our partnership is one of equals. I recently presented at the East Coast Conference on Community Policing* and found the tide is shifting. Most officers I spoke with are eager to share information and develop similar partnerships. Technology remains an obstacle--not that they don't have the technology, but ironically the I.T. gatekeepers are so seldom consulted, they have no precedent in extracting data for their own internal use. We're fortunate to have many data-mining experts who can package the information we need to get out. Where is this leading us? The Chief has stated at many community meetings, eventually it should be possible for any Minneapolitan to log in and get any and all information that's considered public, in a format useful for neighborhood associations, block clubs, business groups, etc. In the meantime we reach a happy medium wherein we develop localized partnerships with those who can help us reduce the incidents of specific crimes or in specific areas, using information we can reasonably extract for their use and ours. * My PowerPoint presentation can be reviewed at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/citywork/police/VirtualBlockClubs.ppt CPS Luther Krueger 612-673-2923 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Minneapolis Police Department, Downtown Command SAFE 29 5th St. So., Minneapolis MN 55402 fax: 612-370-3900 Monthly crime stats by neighborhood in Minneapolis are located at: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/citywork/police/stats/codefor/index.as p The Downtown Command never sleeps. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Democracies Online Newswire - DO-WIRE http://www.e-democracy.org/do - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Join the Democracies Online Newswire - DO-WIRE 'must reading' 'highest quality' DO-WIRE is your primary source for what's important and happening with democracy, government, politics and the Internet around the world. DO-WIRE is a free, high quality moderated e-mail announcement list with no more than seven messages a week. To subscribe for convenient e-mail delivery or read recent posts on the web, visit: http://www.e-democracy.org/do Or send the command "SUB DO-WIRE" in the message body to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Be sure to reply "ok" to the confirmation e-mail request you receive. Launched in January 1998, DO-WIRE now connects over 2400 experts, practitioners, journalists, and citizens from around the world. If you are interested in democracy online, which includes politics online, new media, e-governance, online advocacy, citizen interaction and related topics, then join us. Each week, well known e-democracy expert and speaker Steven Clift <http://publicus.net> forwards, with occasional analysis, up to seven carefully selected messages. Posts include news, article, and report web links, event and conference announcements, calls for papers, and often uncover important "primary source" online resources, projects, and initiatives of significance. DO-WIRE Member Submissions and Comments The large and diverse subscriber base on DO-WIRE makes this information exchange network so vibrant. Share your text-only submissions for review to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the end, comments from DO-WIRE members are the best invitation to join: 'must reading' 'highest quality' 'interesting content' 'keeps me informed ... not inundated' 'incredibly rich, diverse, deep coverage' 'best source ... invaluable resource' 'your contributions are ... informative and enlightening' 'thoughtful analysis and provocative personal perspective' E-Democracy E-Book, Future of E-Democracy Democracy online trends from the last decade are explored in Steven Clift's "E-Democracy E-Book." Themes previously covered by DO-WIRE are summarized in this article. The E-Book, the new Future of E-Democracy article, presentations, and highlighted posts are available online from: http://www.publicus.net Please forward this message to others who are interested in networking with others across the global democracy online community. If you have a web site, please add links as appropriate. Thanks. 1 MAY 2002 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Democracies Online Newswire - DO-WIRE http://www.e-democracy.org/do - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *** Please send submissions to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** To subscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** Message body: SUB DO-WIRE *** *** To unsubscribe instead, write: UNSUB DO-WIRE *** *** Please forward this post to others and encourage *** *** them to subscribe to the free DO-WIRE service. ***
