Even though the Salisbury Township Police Department is on social media, residents are still urged to call 911 or the police department in the event of an emergency, to report a possible crime, to request assistance or provide tips.

"While we are involved with social media, we are not able to monitor it 24-7," Salisbury Township Police Chief Allen W. Stiles said.

Stiles urged residents to call 911 for emergencies and 610-797-1447 for non-emergencies.

"We're still urging the public to pick up the phone and use 911," Stiles said during his report to the board of commissioners at the Sept. 26 township meeting.

Stiles said calls go directly to the Lehigh County Emergency Center. Township police on duty are notified and dispatched.

The Salisbury Township Police Department has a Facebook page and a Twitter account. When residents email or message those accounts, township police do not always immediately see the requests and inquiries.

Stiles said there have been instances on the township police department Facebook site and/or Twitter account where a resident reported, for example, a suspicious activity, but by the time police personnel saw the report, it was too late to investigate.

"We've been generating more activity on Facebook and Twitter," Stiles said.

However, Stiles emphasized, it is still best for residents to call, rather than post on social media with the expectation of a timely township police department response.