Bridgewater Police Service says it has learned important communication lessons after a recent social media post about a wanted man caused fear and confusion in the community.
The incident happened Easter Monday when police searched for a man wanted on a Canada-wide parole warrant after he fled from the South Shore Regional Hospital area.
An initial public post described the man as a “dangerous male” and warned residents not to approach him. A later update said the man had left the area, had committed no offences locally and that public safety was never at risk.
Deputy Chief Danny MacPhee says the wording of the first message created unnecessary concern.
“Putting dangerous out there without any clarifying details in it caused a lot of unnecessary worry in the general area and the community that day,” he said.
MacPhee says police were trying to quickly warn residents not to confront the man or pick up anyone hitchhiking while officers searched.
He says police knew the man had a serious criminal history, but he was not considered an imminent threat at the time.
MacPhee says future public updates in similar situations will better explain the actual level of risk, including whether weapons are believed to be involved or if there is any immediate danger.
“We have to be clearer in our messaging and our team knows that now,” he said.
Police say they still believe notifying the public quickly was the right decision, but acknowledge the language used should have been clearer.
