NYPD Takes to Twitter to Soften Its Image

The New York Police Department is working to soften its image and improve the way it engages with the community it serves.

One of the ways it's doing so is through social media. The department is sending its top brass to an in-house "Twitter School," and now every precinct and some special commands have an account. There are 101 in total.
 
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton is trying to rebrand the department to counter criticism that it tramples on people's civil rights. The public relations unit developed a blog and a podcast that highlights departmental units.
 
Bratton has his own account, and the main Twitter handle has more than 126,000 followers.

Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio met with Bratton and police union leaders Tuesday in an effort to work out their differences.

The public rift between de Blasio and the police has grown wider in recent days. On Monday, the mayor was booed at a graduation ceremony for new police officers.

Over the weekend, dozens of officers turned their backs on him when he spoke at the funeral service of Officer Rafael Ramos, one of the two NYPD cops killed last week.

Patrick Lynch, one of the union officials present at Tuesday's meeting, had previously blamed the mayor for what he calls an "anti-cop atmosphere."

After the meeting. Lynch said, that "actions speak louder than words, and only time will tell."

In a paper statement, de Blasio said, "Today's meeting focused on building a productive dialogue and identifying ways to move forward together."

"The mayor and police commissioner remain committed to keeping crime in New York City at historically low levels, supporting the brave men and women in uniform who protect us every day, and finding ways to bring police and the community closer together," he said.