Police using Twitter to offer virtual ridealongs

A new approach to informing the public about what law enforcement officers do on the job is taking hold at police departments across the United States and Canada.
 
   With virtual ridealongs on Twitter, or tweetalongs, curious citizens don't even leave the comfort of their computer or smartphone for a glimpse into the daily routines of law enforcement officers.
 
   Officers post regular updates to Twitter about what they are seeing as they perform their normal on-duty routine. The tweets can include photos and links to videos of the officers and cover an array of activities -- everything from an officer responding to a homicide to a noise complaint.
 
   Police departments say virtual ridealongs reach a wider range of people compared to regular ridealongs and add transparency.