Goff and Howard Public Relations / Public Affairs Logo

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Social media and the need for speed

During the 2008 Republican National Convention, Goff & Howard's client, the Saint Paul Police Department, monitored demonstrators' social media activities to prepare for averting potentially violent protests. It was a textbook case of using newly evolved public communications to help peace officers maintain order and protect property.

Apparently, not all big city police departments have caught on to the SPPD's success. On Tuesday afternoon, the Dallas Morning News Web site carried a story about the imminent arrival of the Gumball 3000 car rally in the Dallas area. The Gumball is a coast-to-coast charity drive which features lots of supercars. Many of the participants drive in such excesses of the legal speed limit that they risk having their exotic sports cars seized by the cops.

As the News reports, "Some participants are sending updates on their progress by Twitter. 'One reason people are using Twitter is the police aren't monitoring it,'" a rally spokeman said.