However, the extended capabilities of the system also provide a new way for members of the public to communicate with the department. Citizens can post questions, leave messages of praise with individual officers, and even file complaints. Complaints filed through the bulletin board are printed and investigated in much the same way as complaints filed in person-the primary difference being that the complainant does not have to travel to the police station. All messages from citizens are routed and recorded by the BBS software. The information systems manager monitors the BBS and routes general messages to the chief or the public information officer, depending on content.
Citizens also can send messages directly to individual officers.
In addition to providing a new way for citizens to interact with the department, the BBS offers a unique way for the agency to provide information to its citizens. To protect personal privacy, the department censors the reports by removing names, addresses, and other personal identifiers. Nonetheless, in a community the size of Searcy, such information-sharing can help dispel persistent concerns from some individuals that the police department covers up certain information. By allowing citizens to see all of the reports filed with the department, instead of only those that the news media deem newsworthy, the department believes that these cover-up concerns will become a thing of the past. Citizens can download and print these documents, or just view them online.