The Chatham-Kent Police Service in southwestern Ontario hopes a new, dynamic website will connect it more directly to the communities it serves.

The Chatham-Kent Police Service hopes these kinds of features will help it build a more direct relationship with citizens. (Chatham-Kent Police Service)

The site launched Monday morning, and includes new features such as a community calendar, photo gallery and a local "most wanted" list. It also includes a series of moving videos of different officers wearing different types of police uniforms.

It's a part a deliberate shift toward increased community-based policing, according to spokesperson Const. Michael Pearce.

"There's a saying that was voiced by Sir Robert Peel that the police are the public and the public are the police," he said, paraphrasing one of nine principles established by the British-born founder of modern policing.

Traditionally, the Chatham-Kent police force relied on the media to report on its activities.

In May, it began posting news releases to its followers on Twitter and Facebook.

"Police services are more successful when they have community buy-in," Pearce said. "The more eyes and ears we have on the street, the more successful we're going to be."

The previous site was developed a few years ago, Pearce said. The re-design began in March.