Rapes devastate Baltimore, crimes too sensitive for Twitter

November 3, 2:49 PMBaltimore Social Media ExaminerBridget Marie Forney

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In breaking news of the past 24 hours, information was released by the Baltimore Police Department about a series of rapes that happened recently in the city.  Apparently, some of the rapes have happened near bus stops, with the offender approaching women waiting for the next terminal and making threats to successfully lure them into dimly-lit areas. One victim is a 55-year old woman who was waiting for the bus after a late night church service.

The question raised by the Baltimore Sun: with more than five rapes over the past two weeks, and some that are believed to be related, why are we just hearing about it now?

The Baltimore Police Department is on Twitter @BaltimorePolice, but they’re known for tweeting about shootings that have happened, arrests that have been made and people who’ve been injured. Notice all three of those items are read in the past tense.  Tweeting about what’s happening now, specifically in the circumstance of the aforementioned rapes, could raise awareness about predators and possibly in the end, save lives.  Isn’t that the whole point of having the Baltimore Police Department on Twitter to begin with?

While tweeting about such dramatic and sensitive circumstances could raise awareness about these rapes, maintaining the image of Baltimore being a safe community would be damaged in the process.

According to Andy Green from the Baltimore Sun, “(Baltimore Police) Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told me today that the department, as a rule, doesn't tweet rapes because of the sensitive nature of the crime.”

As we all know, the information has now been released to the media and public (though as of right now, no information regarding the rapes has been updated on the BPD's Facebook or Twitter pages).  However, we could have known about this mid-October, instead of beginning-November.

Broadcasting information to thousands of Twitter followers is a powerful weapon in the Police Dept.’s arsenal.
 
To use or not to use?

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