In January, Statesboro Public Safety will implement a new communications service allowing city officials to send important, valuable community information directly to residents using the latest technology, said Statesboro Public Safety Director Wendell Turner.
    “The Nixle Community Information Service allows us to create and publish messages to be delivered to subscribed residents instantly via cell phone, text message and/or email,” he said. “Notifications can also be accessed online at Nixle’s web site at www.nixle.com.”
    Messages may include crime alerts, public advisories, or community messages as well as other relevant safety and community event information he said.
    “This tool is another way to reach our community and keep them involved in the safety and security of each other,” Turner said. “This new and exciting program expands the community involvement philosophy even further for Statesboro Public Safety.”
    Combined with two other programs the city introduced last year, an online tips submission program (www.tipsonline.com) and (www.crimereports.com), “anyone can help make a difference,” he said. “The service is secure, reliable and very easy to use.”
    Messages can be sent broadly or specifically to residents registered within a ¼ mile radius, giving them the opportunity to receive trustworthy information relevant only to their neighborhood or affected area. “Residents decide from which local agencies they want to receive information upon getting registered,” he said.”Subscribers can also choose the way in which alerts are received, whether it is by email, text message, or over the web.”
    Nixle builds on the foundations of other public-to-public communication services, such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, but adds a key component: security. “When citizens receive information from our agency via Nixle, they know it can be trusted. “
    Residents of Statesboro and those in neighboring communities can immediately begin receiving pertinent information via text message, email, and web by registering at www.nixle.com.  “We are very excited to have you experience it for yourself,” Turner said.