By Marty Duffus
Osceola Police Chief
One question that I get a lot is, “What is this Nixle thing you’re always talking about”? It is a FREE opt-in community notification service. Anyone who has a cell phone and the ability to receive a text message and/or has an email address is encouraged to utilize this service.
The Osceola Police Department has been using this service for several years. Its purpose is to notify the public of events that are immediate, something that is scheduled or to ask the public for help. Examples of immediate notification events might be the activation of the city’s snow ordinance, a road closure, severe weather or missing persons or children just to name a few. I have linked our Nixle messaging to our Facebook page, so if you have Facebook, ‘like’ our page, and you’ll receive messages from the department on Facebook.
The service is secure. The department does not have the ability to see who signs up, does not have access to your phone number or your email address. Nixle does not sell your information to third parties. Oh, and did I mention it’s FREE?
There are three ways to sign up for this important immediate notification service. The first, is to text our zip code, 50213, to 888777. You will receive a text response message asking you to confirm your request. Once confirmed, your cell phone will begin to receive Nixle messages. You can unsubscribe from the service by doing exactly the same thing.
The second way, and the one I prefer, is to go to Nixle.com and sign up there. On the website you have the ability to set-up your account to receive notifications on your cell phone and your email. I strongly suggest you add your email, as the messages you receive by email are usually much more detailed than a text. A text Nixle alert will only be 140 characters in length, which means it is very brief.
The third way to sign up is to bring your phone to the police department, and we will be happy to program your phone for you. It takes only seconds, and we would be glad to offer you a cup of coffee while you wait. Of course, you’re welcome to come and see us anytime.