On February 15, 2011 the San Gabriel Police Department will launch a new communication service that allows the police to send important and valuable crime prevention information directly to residents using the latest technology.

The Nixle Community Information Service allows the Police Department to create and publish messages to be delivered to residents instantly via cell phone text message and/or email. Notifications can also be accessed online at Nixle’s web site at www.nixle.com.

Messages will include neighborhood-specific crime alerts and advisories, traffic issues, wanted persons, missing persons, crime statistics, and more. The service is offered free-of-charge.

The Police Department determines the notification area, from as small as ¼ mile to Citywide or to all those who have subscribed in the San Gabriel area.  The addresses submitted by the subscriber are cross referenced with the notification area or address that is assigned to each message.  Subscribers are then notified accordingly. Subscribers can also choose the way in which alerts are received, whether it is by email, text message, or over the web.

There is NO spam and no hidden costs. Standard text messaging rates do apply.

Nixle builds on the foundations of other public communication services, such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, but adds a key component: security. When citizens receive information from the San Gabriel Police Department’s Crime Prevention Office via Nixle, they know it can be trusted.

“Nixle is another tool to provide our residents with valuable crime prevention information.  In addition, it helps to strengthen our community oriented policing efforts by increasing transparency,” states Police Chief David A. Lawton.

Residents of San Gabriel and those in neighboring communities can immediately begin receiving pertinent information via text message, email, and web by registering at www.nixle.com