More than 12,000 people follow the Washington, Illinois Police Department on Facebook—nearly as many as live in the city itself! It’s not for their philosophy of community policing (though that is laudable), but rather for their hilarious, yet informative dispatches online. From doughnut jokes to “surveillance photos” of large insects to its amusing canine “interns,” their unusual approach to social media has strengthened community relationships, allowing them to address small issues before they become serious conflicts—and serving as a model for police/community relations everywhere. Check them out on Twitter and Instagram, too!
