Commissioner Bratton plans to roll out Twitter accounts to every precinct in the city, police sources said.
A small group of commanders from the 83, PSA 6, 106, 25, and 112th precincts will test it out initially as part of a pilot project. Their commands
include neighborhoods like Bushwick, Harlem, Ozone Park, Forest Hills, and Rego Park.
The NYPD hopes it will help precincts forge closer connections with their communities using social media, sources said. It will be expanded if it’s successful.
The guidelines for what the police can tweet are still being considered.
The Twitter account of Deputy Inspector Jeffrey Schiff, who is now the commander of the 106th precinct, was silenced by the NYPD last year when he used it to warn residents about career criminals returning from prison to Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and Red Hook.
The feed was popular with residents and community leaders, but Legal Aid lawyers said they would consider a lawsuit after learning about his account.
Only @NYPDNews, the department’s official handle, was allowed to tweet.
Meanwhile, some of the ex-cons he warned the public about were rearrested for similar crimes.
Parolee Eduardo Guzman did state time for attempted burglary—and was rearrested on January 24 after he was spotted strolling down a Carroll Gardens street with a shopping cart, swiping packages from buildings.
Schiff’s first tweet in August 2012 was about Guzman, and noted his rap sheet of burglary and drug convictions.
Schiff also tweeted about Efrain Gauthier, a Red Hook suspect wanted on a bench warrant for grand larceny.
By the age of 24, Gauthier already racked up more than 40 arrests.
He was arrested in January while bicycling down a sidewalk as he wheeled a second bike.
Schiff also used his Twitter feed when Superstorm Sandy slammed Red Hook to let residents know where they could stock up on relief supplies, such as food, blankets, and batteries.