Elgin inspires Round Lake Park police to start YouTube channel
Saying he was inspired by what he saw from Elgin authorities this week, Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko is trying to boost his department's social media presence with a YouTube channel.
Filenko posted the first of what he intends to be many YouTube videos Thursday. In a basic introduction for the 22-second video, he said he'll provide periodic updates about what's happening in Round Lake Park, noteworthy crimes and village ordinances.
"It's another tool in the box to communicate out there," Filenko told the Daily Herald.
He said Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda's YouTube announcement Wednesday about the capture of fugitive Jesse Vega motivated him to start the channel for Round Lake Park the next day.
About 6,300 YouTube views have been logged for Swoboda's video regarding Vega, a prisoner who was captured nearly eight hours after escaping from Elgin Mental Health Center.
Filenko said Round Lake Park police have received strong traffic on a Facebook page that launched in April 2013. He said there will be a link to YouTube on the Facebook page that has included stray dog alerts, vehicle sticker purchase reminders and other information useful to Round Lake Park residents.
Round Lake Park police intend to have a presence on microblogging site Twitter as well.