Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
  • Digital Edition
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • Digital Edition
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

Study envisions white-water course, amenities in Cedar River

UI names U. Illinois VP Barbara Wilson second presidential finalist

Iowa City schools relaxing coronavirus quarantine practices after almost 1,000…

Ernst bill bans meat bans

Watch: Gov. Kim Reynolds holds news conference at 11 a.m.…

University of Iowa medical expert takes questions on J &…

200,000-square-foot-facility to break ground near Cedar Rapids airport

University of Iowa pharmacy students practice giving shots

Home / News

Cedar Rapids Police Department makes official social media debut

Lee HermistonBy: Lee Hermiston Dec. 5, 2014 1:40 pm Updated: Dec. 5, 2014 1:40 pm
Cedar Rapids Police Department makes official social media debut

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Cedar Rapids Police Department is looking for a few fans and followers.

The police department has joined social media sites Facebook and Twitter (@CR_Police). After a soft launch to build up some sweets and posts, the department officially announced their social media presence this week.

Capt. Jeff Hembera, who heads up the department's patrol division and was one of the members of the department who spearheaded the social media effort, said the department's presence on Facebook and Twitter is in response to the changing ways in which people use media.

'I think we realized that Facebook, Twitter, the social media sites, they're the way people are communicating, now more than ever,” Hembra said. 'We were kind of missing a great opportunity to reach out to the public and get our message out.”

Rather than have one person manage the department's social media sites, Hembera said there will be about 20 employees - officers, supervisors and dispatchers - with access to the Facebook and Twitter sites. That should allow for posts throughout the day and night and timely responses to people with questions. Hembera said the social sites will not be staffed all of the time and should not be viewed as a replacement for 911 or normal reporting systems.

Instead, Hembera views the sites as a means to engage in normal conversations, get information out to the public and hopefully get some feedback from citizens, as well.

For instance, Friday morning's posts on both Twitter and Facebook warned that Blairs Ferry Road was closed for a period of time and that motorists should be aware of heavy fog.

'It's real time information,” said Greg Buelow, the city's public safety spokesman. 'It provides people with a degree of more instantaneous knowledge of what's going on.”

In addition to traffic conditions and other breaking news, Hembera said police will post crime prevention tips, information about upcoming classes for the public, or just updates on what the police department has been up to. Recent posts include photos from Thursday's Shop with a Cop event and those honoring a recently retired officer.

While most posts are straight forward, some will be mixed with a little bit of humor. Hembera said that's one more way police can build relationships with the community.

'People do realize we are like everybody else; that the same things that make them laugh make us laugh, too,” he said. 'Occasionally, there will be a post now and again that will put a smile on faces.”

The police department will continue to interact with the public outside of social media. The department is hosting a Coffee with a Cop event on Thursday, Dec. 18 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Wilson Avenue Hy-Vee.

A screenshot of the Cedar Rapid Police's Twitter page.
Lee Hermiston

Lee Hermiston

Reporter, The Gazette

Iowa City and Johnson county reporter for The Gazette

Iowa City man arrested after armed robbery

Two members added to Iowa City Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Cyclist hit Wednesday in Coralville dies

Megan Alter to make second run for Iowa City Council

“Software glitch” leads to accidental appointment to Iowa City commission

All articles by Lee

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

Iowa City woman accused of misappropriating nearly $75,000

Iowa City woman accused of misappropriating nearly $75,000

Lee Hermiston Crime and Courts Jan. 6, 2021 7:25 am

Dubuque woman sentenced to 30 years for sex exploitation of…

Dubuque woman sentenced to 30 years for sex exploitation of…

Trish Mehaffey Crime and Courts Feb. 16, 2021 4:53 pm

Judge denies lowering $1 million bail for 17-year-old charged with…

Judge denies lowering $1 million bail for 17-year-old charged with…

Trish Mehaffey Crime and Courts Jan. 29, 2021 6:34 pm

News

Former Minnesota cop charged in shooting of Black motorist

Former Minnesota cop charged in shooting of Black motorist

AP

News 8m ago

Cedar Rapids man accused of stealing solar panels, attempting to…

Cedar Rapids man accused of stealing solar panels, attempting to…

Kat Russell

Crime and Courts 46m ago

Drive-through April Food Box Giveaway is Sunday

Drive-through April Food Box Giveaway is Sunday

Community 90m ago

Board of Regents won’t mandate vaccine

Board of Regents won’t mandate vaccine

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed 2h ago

Crime & Courts

Former Minnesota cop charged in shooting of Black motorist

Former Minnesota cop charged in shooting of Black motorist

AP

News 8m ago

Teen stabbed by a sibling at Marion residence, police say

Teen stabbed by a sibling at Marion residence, police say

Kat Russell

Crime and Courts 32m ago

Services set for slain Iowa State Patrol trooper

Services set for slain Iowa State Patrol trooper

Kat Russell

Crime and Courts Apr. 13, 2021 8:52 pm

Cedar Rapids man sentenced to 10 years in workplace shooting

Cedar Rapids man sentenced to 10 years in workplace shooting

Trish Mehaffey

Crime and Courts Apr. 13, 2021 3:59 pm

Sports

Iowa State football getting comfortable in the corner

Iowa State football getting comfortable in the corner

Ben Visser

Iowa State Cyclones 6m ago

Much for Hawkeye men’s basketball to resolve in offseason

Much for Hawkeye men’s basketball to resolve in offseason

Mike Hlas

Sports 7m ago

Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Duane Schulte to be inducted into IFCA…

Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Duane Schulte to be inducted into IFCA…

Jeff Johnson

Iowa Prep Football Game Center 2h ago

Lauren Riggle: A versatile player for a versatile Clear Creek…

Lauren Riggle: A versatile player for a versatile Clear Creek…

Nathan Ford

High School Soccer 3h ago

Opinion

The immigration crisis is rooted in conservative policies

The immigration crisis is rooted in conservative policies

Brad Wilson

Guest Columnists Apr. 14, 2021 11:19 am

Vaccines: A shot in the arm as an act of…

Vaccines: A shot in the arm as an act of…

Timothy Walch

Guest Columnists Apr. 13, 2021 5:27 pm

Reynolds puts politics before people in passport debate

Reynolds puts politics before people in passport debate

Bruce Lear

Guest Columnists Apr. 13, 2021 7:57 am

Most Iowa Republicans plan to get jabbed — so should…

Most Iowa Republicans plan to get jabbed — so should…

Adam Sullivan

Opinion Apr. 12, 2021 3:06 pm

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Gazette Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company