Zero! None! Nada! Zilch!

Despite the tens of times the mayor has promised in council meetings that “he’ll have the police chief” inform citizens about borough happenings using the police department’s facebook page, the facebook page is largely devoid of current information that citizens would find helpful and useful.

Despite the promises, none is the number of social media posts the Columbia Police Department has posted at its  during September so far.

Despite the recommendations of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing Report that police departments engage citizens by using social media, Columbia’s Police Department remains lethargic.

Despite the promise that the police department will soon have a group page on the increasing used CrimeWatch Website, Columbia’s police department is not listed.

West Hempfield Township – Manor Township – New Holland – Manor Township – Northern Lancaster County Regional – Strasburg – East Cocalico Township – East Hempfield Township – East Lampeter Township – Ephrata and Lititz: Each of these municipalities has a group page at the Crimewatch Website,

In June, Columbia news, views & reviews posted this: “Way back in February, we posted these items from the mayor following the February Council meeting of the whole: ‘Number 2 … He announced that the Police Department is close to having a new application called “CrimeWatch.” He said that a number of communities have signed up with CrimeWatch (click here or on the graphic above to see area departments) to share the daily police log information – the arrests, the warrants, the news about policing and safety – not only for the Borough but for other areas too. He said the pictures that now hang on the windows of the police station will be online. Number 3 … He said information about the above – the first two tidbits – would be posted at the Columbia Police Department’s facebook page. That’ll be a welcome addition for borough citizens – though there’ve been only 1o posts since the beginning of the year. 55 days and only 10 posts! We applaud the announced transparency and communication that’s been promised.’ The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Bring on the pudding.”