 The Portland Police Department is turning to new media in an effort to diversify and recruit the best candidates for police officer positions. I spoke with police chief Michael Sosczuk about this new media outreach program. Well chief, the Portland Police Department is turning to social media in order to recruit and diversify the force somewhat. Could you tell us a little bit about why you've made this decision and how you hope it will work? Yeah, sure thing. First and foremost, thank you very much for coming down to talk to us about this very important topic. The city of Portland is a great place to live and work. And the Portland Police Department got about 162 officers and about 212 total employees. With a high number of officers and we're considered to be a medium-sized department from a national perspective, we've got to turn over about 10 officers a year. And in the current economy, the current climate that's out there, we truly have a tough time from a recruiting perspective. So really we started to branch out. We really looked at all of our processes around recruiting, around hiring, and have really streamlined it a great deal over the last few years. The latest initiative and something that we're really fond of and I think is going to be great is around social media. And that's the creation of these videos that are going to be out there on Facebook and on our website and YouTube and things of that nature. So you're going to have several different types of videos out there on the social media pages, dealing specifically with what topics. Right, there actually will be a total of four. We started with a simple 30-second video that's on YouTube now around our physical fitness test. And really just walking an individual through exactly what's expected of them when they arrive for these tests. Because what we found is we have a very thorough and extensive hiring process. But one thing that they can control automatically is if they show up in shape enough to pass the test. And we're often surprised by people that know exactly what the standards are and can't pass the test when they arrive. So we put it right there in front of them. And then there will be a 60-second and a 30-second spot that really just talk about the department, kind of show some of our specialties and things of that nature. And then there's a 30-second spot, which I believe will be the primary one that will be shown on CTN. That's a 30-second spot that I'm just kind of talking to the city of Portland and to the region about our department and how diverse we are and, you know, the positives of working in an agency like the Portland Police Department. Well, then I suppose when you go into schools to recruit, if you do that, I don't know, during job workshops and open houses, you'll have a visual to show these kids. And to me, a visual says so much more than words when you're trying to explain something. Will these videos on Facebook and YouTube be available to just the general public, or do you have to be at a certain level in thinking about getting into the department before? Actually, this could be the gateway. This will be a very first level. You're just going to get a view of the city, of the equipment, of the officers, some of the specialty teams that are there. There will be some background voiceovers about some of our basic projects because they are quick hitters. They're, again, a 30-second spot, a 60-second spot. So we're trying to get as much information in there as possible. Really, what happens is we're trying to wet that interest. We want them to call. We want to have a personal interaction with them to explain really more the details and what we're looking for in a brand new recruit or brand new hire. Well, it makes sense. The media is where everyone goes now. Absolutely, yeah. So you can't live without being part of social media. When do you hope to really get this going? Well, I think this will be a big piece of that, to do PSAs out in the neighborhoods. They are on our website right now, and we're just trying to get the word out as much as humanly possible that it's out there and available so that they can access that. And that will bring hits, that whole social media concept to the website so that they're in turn, they watch a video, and then they would just click right on one of our highlighted pages around hiring to get some more specific information. Well, and I think putting on your physical fitness requirements, you might be able to use that as a challenge with the city. Sure. Can you keep up to the standards of the Portland Police Department? Absolutely, yeah. I love that idea. Absolutely. Well, to find out more about this, where should people go? They could go to the Portland Police Department, and I say Portland Main Police Department. We do get some hits from Wargon from time to time to our website. Then that will allow them to move into the social media sites. It's right on the homepage, right on the front. They'll be able to take a look at these videos, and it also has the rest of that hiring information right there. Well, it sounds great, and I think you're doing a wonderful job. Thank you. Well, thank you very much. We really appreciate it.