BrightPlanet has tallied the final results from the Global Law Enforcement Tweet-a-Thon. Over 200 police departments, from at least 10 countries, speaking 23 languages, participated in a 24-hour “virtual ride-along” on March 22-23. #poltwt was even a top 10 trending topic in the United States on March 22.

A total of 15,621 Twitter users produced 48,482 Tweets using the #poltwt hashtag. In addition to giving the public a “virtual ride-along”, the Tweet-a-Thon showcased the synergistic possibilities when police departments and the public cooperate via social media. Everything from door-to-door scam alerts, road closures, traffic accidents, missing persons, and stolen property were reported using #poltwt. The post even features some of the most humorous tweets we harvested.

By The Numbers

A Quick Snapshot:

48,842 – Total Number of Tweets Harvested with #poltwt Hashtag
18,092 – Total Number of Retweets
15,621 Total Number of Twitter Users
23 – Total Number of Different Languages
11,203,796 – Total Outreach (Total of all 15,621 users followers)

MOST VOCAL

Drumroll please…at the end of the Tweet-a-Thon, the “Most Vocal” Awards go to:

@NYorksPolice – 568 tweets
@mapwinn0605 – 484 tweets
@lawscomm – 289 tweets
@CalgaryPolice – 209 tweets
@GMPBlackley – 205 tweets
@HaltonPolice – 186 tweets

MOST POPULAR

The Twitter handles most mentioned within the results were:

@CalgaryPolice – 918 mentions
@gmpolice – 841 mentions
@NYorksPolice -662 mentions
@lawscomm – 407 mentions
@hantsyotcop – 355 mentions
@FBIPressOffice – 316 mentions

TOP TWITPICS

Our top Twit Pics featured a number of a fashion police memes, canine department members, and some reminders about your local police officers.

Fashion Police Meme
K9 Unit on Patrol
Meet Mo
Peace Officer Quote
Message to Parents
#Polltwt Location Trending

MOST RETWEETED TWEETS

The most retweeted tweets so far mention everything from theft to a missing child:

RT @hantsyotcop: I’m not the fashion police but this could be an #awkwardmoment you may want to avoid #poltwt http://t.co/52J3ssklIq

RT @GMPNewtonHeath: Male detained in shop in Newton Heath stealing tea bags. Gave his name as Earl Grey #poltwt

RT @FBIPressOffice: Since 1967, police agencies nationwide have used the FBI’s NCIC to check crime records #poltwt http://t.co/FYffghkAU …

RT @OttawaPolice: RT if you promise to always drive sober. #poltwt

RT @CalgaryPolice: Picture just received from our K9 unit on patrol in #yyc. #poltwt. http://t.co/CuiD9OGznB

TOP DEVICES

The iPhone continues to top the list of most-used devices other than computers:

iPhone – 10,116 tweets
Android – 3,971 tweets
iPad – 2,099 tweets
BlackBerry – 1,988 tweets
Windows Phone – 153 tweets

#POLTWT ACROSS THE GLOBE

23 different languages have been used in #poltwt tweets with English topping the list:

English
Dutch
Spanish
Swedish
German
Finnish
Other languages included: Turkish, Polish, Thai, Japanese, and Russian

#Poltwt At Work

REUNITING A LOST BOY WITH HIS MOTHER

We found social media at work to find a missing boy from South Australia Police News (@SAPoliceNews).

@SAPoliceNews: Help find 8yo William? Missing in #Nairne maroon shirt, blue jeans. Call 131 444 #adelhills

@SAPoliceNews: William and his mum. He was found safe and sound in the Nairne area. Thank you for your RT #missing #nowfound #poltwt pic.twitter.com/TzjUTPEIVP

6 EXAMPLES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT UTILIZING TWITTER

@Cumbriapolice: Please note that the A595 at Bolton Low Houses, Wigton is now closed due to the snow. #A595 #cumbria #poltwt

@GMPFailsworth: This fella was stolen last month. The offenders used a chainsaw. Know where he is, give us a call. #poltwt

@GMPWhitefield: #MissingAppeal: 14yr old Sophie Holmes still missing from the Whitefield area Pls RT #poltwt http://t.co/1ZNGfaZR7b

@lincspolice: Missing Boston man found safe last night. Twitter is really useful tool in these cases. Thanks for all RTs #poltwt

@NWmwaypolice: #poltwt – for info, Runcorn/Widnes bridge has been closed due to falling ice, expect delays in and around the area

@HaltonPolice: Burlington homeowner approached by 3 suspicious persons falsely claiming to be from ADT, wanted entrance to home. #poltwt (notice the quick response from the ADT corporate account)

MOST HUMOROUS TWEETS FROM #POLTWT

@cheshirepolice: 999 call to report a gate banging in the wind. Please remember 999 is for emergencies. (Not for wind calls)! #poltwt

@CustomsBorder: Hide and seek! CBP found 150 lbs. of #drugs in this truck bed. #poltwt #photooftheday http://t.co/sPnpOc6cLo

@eriealerts: #poltwt EPD McDonalds 4th & State. Drive through patron reporting no service for 5mns. No one at window. Concerned.

@GMPNewtonHeath: Evidence at last: bears do sit in the woods #poltwt http://t.co/w0k1jRHeWn

@ManukauPolice: #poltwt. Don’t lippy and drive. Report of a car swerving over the road while driver applies make up

@PaloAltoPolice: We just saw one of the @google self-driving cars go by us. Gotta love Silicon Valley. #poltwt

@SeattlePD: Det. Mark Jamieson on the Jonas Brothers: “I don’t like those [Jonas Bros.] I’m all about Hanson” #poltwt

@SeattlePD: Stun Gun-Wielding Pregnant Woman Attacks Bike Messenger: http://t.co/eHwOGOhecE #poltwt

@TampaPD: Just stopping a SMART car now driving with no headlights and no taillights on. It’s not that smart. #POLTWT

@TampaPD: Enroute to a report of a naked man running around in traffic…Well this could be interesting #POLTWT #nofreeshowers

@TampaPD: Well officers checked the area and fortunately, for everyone’s sake, we weren’t able to locate the naked man! #POLTWT

@TPSDetBangild: Slower drivers, please use right lane. Careless, aggressive and dangerous drivers, please walk to work. #poltwt

@VTStatePolice: 80 mph is not a safe speed on snowy roads. Ain’t nobody got time for a wreck! #VSPtroopB #poltwt

@WichitaPolice: Disorderly conduct report in area of 3900 E Murdock. Suspect called and said she was “going to cut his face off” #poltwt

@YB_Sodermalm: -”Sir, you are the first person arrested to go in our new police car.” .. -”That’s not bad, how nice of you.” #poltwt

@YB_Sodermalm: A truck driver was surfing on his laptop while he drove his truck. Inappropiate, yes. Illegal, no. Not in Sweden. #poltwt

@YRP: Just received a call of a possum stuck in a resident’s fence. Not an emergency – unless you’re the possum, I guess. #poltwt

Why BrightPlanet?

BrightPlanet has a range of solutions to help state, local, and federal agencies track and find what they need online. BlueJay is a Twitter monitoring tool made specifically for law enforcement. Our Deep Web Intel Silos have also been used by law enforcement to track crime and build cases.