In an effort to keep residents more informed about safety issues in town, the New Boston Police Department has adopted a communications network called Nixle.

This federally backed program sends residents text or e-mail alerts regarding road closures, accidents, burglaries and other criminal activity in the area, and cautionary messages.

“It improves our efforts on solving crimes, because there’s more eyes out there,” said New Boston Police Chief Chris Krajenka.

Krajenka has been working since August to get this 17program running in the Police Department, and he is now working with the school and Fire Department to get them on board as well.

Krajenka said the program would be important in the school, as it would give alerts about missing children, early school closings and other emergencies.

It may be another three or four months before the school and Fire Department are on board with the network, but Krajenka said so far, the response about this program has been positive.

“The Goffstown Police Department has been using it, and it’s been a success,” said New Boston Police Chief Chris Krajenka.

Residents can choose to get alerts from other towns as well, depending what they choose as their alert coverage area. The program is free, and residents can sign up by visiting www.nixle.com and following the prompts on the main page.