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Meet Jordan Woodruff, one of the officers behind ELPD's Twitter account

April 20, 2020
<p>An MSU student checks social media during the coronavirus stay-in-place quarantine on March 30, 2020.</p>

An MSU student checks social media during the coronavirus stay-in-place quarantine on March 30, 2020.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the East Lansing Police Department, or ELPD, took to Twitter to inform the East Lansing Community, but also to make them laugh. The officer behind the lighthearted Twitter posts is ELPD Officer Jordan Woodruff.

ELPD's Twitter had been silent since last fall and returned with a Tweet referencing popular Netflix series "Tiger King" a few days after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order.

"When all this kind of started, I knew people would be at home, on their phones a lot more," Woodruff said. "So I thought it'd be a good time to reconnect and build that bridge with the public and get the Twitter going again."

Woodruff, an officer of three and a half years, is one of three officers who contribute to ELPD social media. However, Woodruff mainly controls the ELPD Twitter feed.

In scrolling through the Twitter posts, content includes reminders to social distance and wash hands, while also making light of the quarantine situation.

"I like to be able to give out information that needs to be given out, but also be able to have fun with it and kind of bridge the gap and humanize the way people look at our police department," Woodruff said.

A younger officer himself, Woodruff said he uses Twitter posts to connect with college-aged followers.

"I feel like I can connect with them more from a police aspect and kind of show that police can still have fun and try to show the human side of the badge," Woodruff said.

Woodruff gets his inspiration from other memes he sees on social media and tailors them to the East Lansing community, even when he's off duty.

Community members should be advised that ELPD's Twitter is not monitored 24/7 and should not be used to notify the department of incidents, Woodruff said.

Criminal reports should be made by calling 911 for emergencies. Community members may also contact the department at 517-351-4220 for non-emergencies.

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