By Rodney Williams

Managing Editor

The Van Alstyne Police Department is to begin using social media to its advantage as it has set up its own Facebook page. The new page (search Van Alstyne Police Department on Google or Facebook) will serve as another method of communication between the department and the public. “It’s a good way to get communication out from the police department to the community in a cost-effective way,” said Van Alstyne Police Chief Tim Barnes. “It’s an avenue for citizens to know what’s going on in their community.”

The new site was built and activated within the past week. Just three officers within the department will have access to the administrative side of the page and Barnes cautioned that this will the forum will be monitored. “This is a public page and we will not tolerate inappropriate content on it,” he said. Work is ongoing to make sure the page is operating smoothly and that you don’t have to be a member of Facebook to access the page directly from a Google search. The department’s embrace of social media has begun with Facebook but may not end there. Barnes stated that the department may eventually open a Twitter account for even quicker access to information for the public. This would be especially helpful in times of emergency road closures, a task for which Facebook will also be used. In addition, the department and the City will be working on a new combined site with more user-friendly features in place, such as the ability to go online and register children’s bicycles instead of having to go to the station and do it in person. Also on the Chief’s mind was something having nothing to do with technology but everything to do with safety —dog attacks. Barnes stated that his department has recently begun to see an increase in dogs at large. This has prompted a concern for the welfare of the general public as evidenced by a recent attack. On Jan. 15 a woman was walking her dog on W. Jefferson St. when she was approached by a loose dog. The dog attacked the woman and her injuries were severe. Fortunately, her husband heard her cries for help and rushed out to her aid in time to prevent further injuries. “She’s lucky that her husband heard her cries for help and was able to get to her in time,” Barnes said. Barnes stressed that dog owners must be vigilant and dogs must be contained or kept on a leash at all times. “Accidents do occur but if you have a dog with tendencies to be violent and they are reported you could be fined and lose your dog,” he said. If a dog is found to be “vicious” it can be ordered out of city limits by the presiding judge. If the dog continues to be a problem then the judge, as a final option and after multiple other steps have been taken, has the authority to have the animal euthanized.