Philly's tweeting detective to return

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PHILADELPHIA, March 8 (UPI) -- A Philadelphia police detective has been given permission to resume using Twitter to communicate with the public, a department spokeswoman says.

Joseph Murray, known to his followers as @TheFuzz9143, was told to stop using his police title on Twitter and other social media about two months ago, the Philadelphia Daily News reported. Murray, assigned to Southwest detectives, had been keeping the public informed about arrests and whether burglaries and other crimes appeared linked.

"He really humanized the Philadelphia Police Department, which is not something you hear often," said one follower, Amara Rockar of West Philadelphia, who said she has never, as far as she knows, met Murray face to face.

She worries Murray will not be quite as human in the future.

Karima Zedam, a spokeswoman for Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, sent out an e-mail Wednesday to say Murray will be tweeting again soon.

"Detective Murray's intentions were and are very good," Zedan said. "We asked him to temporarily stop so that we could engage in our social-media efforts in a consistent manner across the whole department. I'm sure he will provide an excellent model for others to follow."