Policy Draft Assignment 1
Policy Draft Assignment
Jadda Burden
School of Forensic Psychology, Liberty University
Abstract
Social media is used as a worldwide communication platform that everyone uses.
Individuals around the world use social media to keep up with their family and friends. They
also use platforms to document memories and share the connection with others. The rise of
social media has increased tremendously over the years. Law Enforcement agencies are using
the platforms for their investigations, along with communication with the public. Social media
platforms make it easier to get information about road closures, collisions, missing persons,
stolen vehicles, abductions, and other incidents that they might need to get out to the public.
Law enforcement can use media platforms to communicate and build trust with their
community. On the other hand, there have also been instances where social media has been
Policy Draft Assignment 2
abused and made the departments look unprofessional. The development of policies in
conjunction with social media should be in every agency.
Keywords: social media, policies, law enforcement
Policy Draft Assignment
Social media are platforms that have inserted themselves in society. It has great benefits
like keeping family and friends in touch while being miles apart, meeting new people, and
keeping a lot of memorable moments that are apart from day-to-day life. There is also the
negative side of social platforms such as cyberbullying, cyber stalking, misinformation, fake
news, and unrealistic expectations few. What are the expectations of law enforcement officers
on social media? Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, Myspace, and TikTok are just
a few social media platforms that people use. All these platforms have the convenient
accessibility of smartphones and tablets; this allows anyone to upload a video or picture at a
moment’s notice. Most of the time, people do not consider where the picture or video should
be uploaded. How does social media affect law enforcement? Most departments have made
social media policies that their employees have to follow. The departments are taking social
media seriously, and the consequences of posting anything that could bring bad media or
attention to the department could end up having the officers in hot water.
Law Enforcement Abuse of Social Media
Social media platforms can be beneficial to law enforcement, but what happens when
officers abuse the platforms? Back in September 2021, nine current and former Oakland police
officers were put on unpaid leave after an investigation showed the group shared offensive
content online from their work cellphones. After an investigation into an Instagram account that
was run by a former officer who was fired. The post was deemed “racist and sexist” and others
“deeply offensive content.” During the investigation nine sworn officers were identified as
Policy Draft Assignment 3
having inappropriate material on their work cellphones. Mayor Libby Schaaf said in a statement,
“Sexist and racist behaviors are far too prevalent in our culture and have no place in our public
safety institutions. I wholeheartedly and strongly condemn any behavior, including online
communications, which supports or engages with sexist or racist tropes.” (Twitter et al., 2021)
The officers were placed on a range of 3 to 25 days' leave without pay due to their
misconduct on social media. The officers’ names were never released, but the Oakland Police
Department submitted all the details of the investigation to the federal court and judge, who
then determined what information should be made public. Once you become an officer,
anything you like, share, or post will be scrutinized by the public. If they post something that
does not reflect the views or opinions of the police department they work for, they are setting
themselves up for consequences.
Organizational Use of Social Media
“Social media is one of many tools law enforcement can use to connect with the
community.” (Finklea, 2023, p.2) Officers can use social media posts as an investigation tool and
assemble evidence on potential suspects. They can gather data from a local community for an
investigation. Officers using social media platforms can help identify a suspect or see if a suspect
has been in an area, which can help make a prompt arrest.
Social media platforms also help law enforcement push out real-time information. The
updates can help to send information about road closures, collisions, active investigations,
public safety alerts, missing people, and other emergencies. Social media allows police
departments to reach thousands of instantly. Not only will the post go out to the individuals
who follow the department's social media platforms, but others will share the post, and it gets
out to locations near and far.
Policy Draft Assignment 4
The platforms also allow law enforcement agencies to engage in their community and
build trust. At my agency, we put on an event every year called National Night Out, this is a
community event where we invite the public out and they get to know their police
departments, fire personnel, and EMS personnel. Mount Pleasant Police Department in South
Carolina also uses their Facebook page for community events like the Christmas parade and the
4th of July event.
Platforms can also be used for crime prevention, investigation support,
transparency/accountability, recruitment and public relations, and crisis and disaster
management. Agencies can use platforms to educate the public on avoiding fraud, locking their
property and how to recognize suspicious activity. Along with preventing crime, the platforms
can help get tips about an active investigation or find out the identity of a suspect.
The agency can also use social media to clarify decisions or actions to the public, which
can help prevent misinformation about high-profile incidents. The department can also use
platforms to attract recruits by highlighting diversity, training, and the meaningful nature of the
job. Finally, a department can use platforms to get information about disasters before, during,
and after they happen.
All these positives with social media platforms can help build trust between a
community and its law enforcement agencies. They can help keep individuals safe, conduct
further investigations, and open communications between the agency and community.
Law Enforcement Best Practice for the Regulation Officer Social Media Activity
Law enforcement social media policies should develop formal guidelines outlining
acceptable and unacceptable behavior for both off and on-duty. Terms like “official use” vs.
“personal use” should be defined in the police. There should also be examples of any prohibited
Policy Draft Assignment 5
conduct, like hate speech, showing confidential information, posting while on shift, posting in
uniform, etc.
The policies need to balance free speech with professional conduct. Officers still have
their First Amendment rights, but it should be clearly defining the limitations of the post. Such
examples might be posting the undermines the public confidence, disrupts department
operations, and imply official department endorsement. Policies need to be narrowly tailored to
address conduct that would directly affect the agency’s functioning or reputation.
The policies need to include off-duty behavior as well. The policies need to be clear that
off-duty posts can still affect public trust and the reputation of the department. The off duty
conducts by law enforcement officers, that involves racism, sexism, threats, or extremist views
should be banned. Which should be stated in the department policies.
After the agency gets their policies written out, the agency needs to educate and train
their officers. Yearly training sessions on what is responsible social media use, should be
required among law enforcement officers. There should be real-world examples of when an
officer makes a poor decision on social media. The training should also touch on topics like
privacy settings and cybersecurity.
After the policies and training have been sent out, the command staff should hold all
employees accountable and enforce any misconduct. The policies also need to have a clear
process for investigation and disciplinary action if the policies are violated. Along with making
sure there is clear consequences, there needs to be positive engagement. This could look like
officers sharing community outreach events, sharing safety tips, and local alerts. The officers
need to be professional and constructive when engaging with the public. The department also
needs to do regular policy review.
Policy Draft Assignment 6
Departmental Policy Outline
Policy number: Social Media 2025
Effective Date: 9/14/2025
Last reviewed: 9/14/2025
Next review 9/14/2026
Applies to: All Employees with the Town of Mount Pleasant Police Department
Responsible Department: Human Resources
1. Purpose
This policy is to establish guidelines and expectations for proper use of social media by all town
employees. Employees will be representing the department when using personal social media as it
can reflect the Town of Mount Pleasant. It is essential to protect the reputation of the organization
and maintain professional standards.
2. Scope
The policy applies to 1. All employees must maintain official department social media accounts. 2.
Employees personal use of social media that references or is associated with the Town of Mount
Pleasant. 3. All platforms included to but not limited to: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram,
YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, personal blogs, forums, and messaging apps where content may be publicly
shared.
3. Definitions
●Social media: Any digital platform that allows individuals or organizations to communicate,
share content, or engage with the public or select audiences.
●Official Accounts: Any social media profile or page created, managed, or endorsed by the
department or company for business or branding purposes.
●Personal Use: Any content posted by an employee on their own behalf, not officially
affiliated with the organization.
4. Guidelines for Official Department Accounts
Employees maintaining official social media accounts must:
●Protect Confidentiality: Never show proprietary, client, employee, or internal information.
●Remain Professional: Avoid content that may be viewed as discriminatory, harassing,
offensive, political, or religious in nature unless directly relevant to the organization’s
mission.
5. Personal Use of Social Media
Employees are free to use social media for personal purposes outside of work hours and off
company devices, provided they:
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●Avoid Conflicts of Interest: Do not post content that could harm the reputation of the
company, show confidential information, or compromise business relationships.
●Respect Work Time: do not allow personal social media use to interfere with job
performance or workplace responsibilities.
●Comply with Other Policies: follow all applicable policies including but not limited to Code
of Conduct and Confidentiality Agreements. 6. Prohibited Activities
Employees must not:
● use company logos or images without permission on personal accounts.
● Post discriminatory, defamatory, harassing, or unlawful content.
● Share internal communications.
● Engage in arguments or disputes on behalf of the company.
7. Monitoring and Enforcement
Town of Mount Pleasant reserves the right to monitor the use of official social media channels and
investigate potential violations of the policy. Any content deemed inappropriate, damaging, or
inconsistent with this policy may be removed or addressed accordingly.
Violations of the policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of
employment, legal action, and/or reporting to relevant authorities.
8. Questions and Reporting
If you have any questions about this policy, contact a potential violation, please contact Human
Resources at HumanResourc[email protected] or 843-884-4176.
Acknowledgement
All employees are required to review and acknowledge this policy upon hiring and whenever updated.
Employee signature:
Date:
Conclusion
This social media policy sets the Town of Mount Pleasant Police Department up to use
online platforms responsibly, in balance between openness and community engagement, and
the need for professionalism and discretion. With the clear delineation of "official" and
"personal" usage, prohibitions on hate speech, disclosure of sensitive information and the
creation of a formalized system of tracking and enforcement, the agency secures its own
Policy Draft Assignment 8
integrity while facilitating effective communication with the public (Oglesby-Neal & Warnberg,
2019).
From a Christian perspective, police officers must uphold justice and be pillars of integrity
as representatives of the divine, as Genesis 1:27 (NIV) highlights. Jesus' injunction to "do unto
others as you would have them do unto you" (Luke 6:31, NIV) reaffirms the officers'
responsibility to interact with the community on social networks in an honest, caring, and
respectful manner. The delivery of this policy enmeshes the biblical imperative to be
peacemakers (Matthew 5:9, NIV), employing digital networks neither for selfish gain but to
promote safety, trust, and unity in the community.
Integration of a Christian worldview needs responsible management of the department's
public discourse. As guardians of prized property, officers are to be stewards of their digital
footprint in a manner, responsible for ensuring every post is in support of their oath to serve
and their commission to loyally serve neighbors and society (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV). Continuing
education in systems of accountability and periodic policy reviews will solidify this stewardship
in modeling how being true to Christian values and professional standards are interrelated
endeavors.
References
9 Oakland police officers disciplined over racist, sexist social media posts. (2021, September 20).
Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-09-20/9-
oaklandpolice-officers-disciplined-over-social-media-posts
Finklea, K. (2023). Law enforcement and technology: Using social media (CRS Report No.
Policy Draft Assignment 9
R47008). Congressional Research Service.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R47008
Levinson-Waldman, R. (n.d.). Use of social media by law enforcement [PDF]. National
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
https://www.nacdl.org/getattachment/05619b3c-8ee4-4540-b192-d850b5c9e7f0/
nacdlpresentation-on-smm-by-le-08-06-20.pdf
Levinson-Waldman, R. (2024, February 7). Principles for social media use by law enforcement.
Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-
reports/principles-social-media-use law-enforcement
Mount Pleasant Police Department. (2024). General Order: A-52 - Social networking & internet
posting. Mount Pleasant Police Department.
Oglesby-Neal, A., & Warnberg, C. (2019). Law enforcement social media policies. Urban
Institute.
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/99788/
law_enforcement_social_med ia_policies_5.pdf
Stuart, R. (2013, February 5). Social media: Establishing criteria for law enforcement use. FBI
Law Enforcement Bulletin. https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/featured-articles/social-
mediaestablishing-criteria-for-law-enforcement-use
United States Congress, Congressional Research Service. (2022). Law enforcement and
technology: Using social media (Report No. R47008).
https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R47008/R47008.2.pdf
Policy Draft Assignment 10
References Law
Enforcement and Technology: Using Social Media. (2022).
https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R47008/R47008.2.pdf
Levinson-Waldman, R. (2024, February 7). Principles for Social Media Use by Law
Enforcement. Brennan Center for Justice.
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/principles-social-media-
use law-enforcement
Levinson-Waldman, R. (n.d.). Use of Social Media by Law Enforcement.
https://www.nacdl.org/getattachment/05619b3c-8ee4-4540-b192-d850b5c9e7f0/
nacdl presentation-on-smm-by-le-08-06-20.pdf
Oglesby-Neal, A., & Warnberg, C. (2019). Law Enforcement Social Media Policies.
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/99788/
law_enforcement_social_med ia_policies_5.pdf
Stuart, R. (2013, February 5). Social media: Establishing Criteria for Law Enforcement Use |
FBI: Law Enforcement Bulletin. FBI: Law Enforcement Bulletin.
https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/featured-articles/social-media-establishing-criteria-for-
law enforcement-use
Twitter, Instagram, Email, & Facebook. (2021, September 20). 9 Oakland police officers
disciplined over racist, sexist social media posts. Los Angeles Times.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-09-20/9-oakland-police-
officers disciplined-over-social-media-posts
