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Kingsport Police Department
David Quillin, Chief of Police 200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 |
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NEWS RELEASE | |||
SUBJECT: | Kingsport Police Department Launches New Automated Traffic Alert System | ||
DATE: | September 8, 2020 | ||
GENERAL NARRATIVE | |||
The Kingsport Police Department is pleased to announce KingsportPDAlerts, a new automated traffic alert system. This system is designed to notify the media and the general public of incidents that have the possibility of creating traffic congestion.
Types of incidents that will generate an automated alert will include the following: 1) Crashes 2) Stranded Motorists 3) Road Hazards 4) Traffic Light Outages 5) Road Closures 6) Water Line Breaks 7) Fires Not only will this system generate an initial alert when the incident is first reported, but it will also generate a follow up alert, in the form of an update, once the incident is cleared. While the above categories will automatically generate an alert, this system also has the bonus capability of allowing customized messages to be manually generated for unique circumstances and/or critical incidents, that necessitate timely communication with the public, should that need arise. When one of the above incidents is reported to Kingsport Central Dispatch, an alert will immediately post to a new blog page, which can be found at www.KingsportPDAlerts.com. This blog page is viewable and subscribable by the public. Anyone can feel free to visit it at any time to view current and past alerts. These alerts will also post to the department’s FaceBook page and Twitter feed. There are three ways that that media representatives and citizens can opt to receive the automated alerts: 1) Enter your email address at www.KingsportPDAlerts.com to subscribe and start receiving alerts directly to your email inbox. 2) Follow us on FaceBook at www.FaceBook.com/KingsportPoliceDepartment. 3) Follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/KingsportPD. Media representatives are encouraged to pass along current alerts from this system to the public during their daily broadcasts. In most cases, specific details regarding these incidents will not be immediately available. Unless exigent circumstances dictate otherwise, further information will typically not be available for release until the next regular business day. Citizens are also encouraged to take advantage of this new automated alert system directly to help them avoid potentially hazardous areas, traffic congestion, and unnecessary delays during their daily travels. The new automated KingsportPDAlerts system is designed to complement, not replace, other public communication systems already in use by the Kingsport Police Department. All official K.P.D. News Releases will continue to post to a completely separate blog, which can be found at www.KingsportPDBlog.com. That blog is also subscribable by email, and those news releases also post to the department’s FaceBook page and Twitter feed. K.P.D. is active on several social media platforms to include WordPress, FaceBook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube…all of which are utilized to promote transparency and help keep the media and public better informed. Links to these various platforms are included below: 3) www.FaceBook.com/KingsportPoliceDepartment 4) www.Twitter.com/KingsportPD |
RELEASING OFFICER | ||
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX) ThomasMPatton |