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Abstract
Social media has become a dominant form of communication, capable of reaching thousands of
individuals instantly. For law enforcement, it offers powerful opportunities to assist with
investigations, share critical information, and engage with the community—often in ways that
directly impact public safety. However, improper use of social media by officers can
significantly harm a department’s reputation and erode public trust. To prevent such
consequences, it is essential for law enforcement agencies to implement comprehensive social
media policies, procedures, and training. This paper examines both the positive and negative
impacts of social media use by law enforcement personnel and departments. Real-world
examples are provided to highlight the importance of responsible use and the potential fallout of
misconduct. Additionally, the paper outlines key components that should be included in a
department’s social media policy to promote professionalism, accountability, and community
trust.
Keywords: social media, law enforcement
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Policy Development Draft Assignment
Social media is a highly impactful communication tool that yields both positive and
negative effects. Law enforcement agencies and the officers employed by them are not exempt
from being among the billions of social media users. However, their usage is scrutinized with a
magnifying glass unlike the average individual user. It is important that law enforcement
agencies have clear social media policies to ensure public trust is maintained, the safety of
employees is protected, and the integrity of the profession is upheld.
Law Enforcement Abuse of Social Media
One biased, racist, sexist, religious, or violent social media post made by a law
enforcement officer can go viral and bring an instant reaction from the local community and
nationwide. Communities and the nation come together and demand the officers be punished.
Nate Silvester, a deputy marshal in Bellevue, Idaho, was fired after he made a TikTok post that
was viewed by five million people (Abel, 2022). While in uniform inside his patrol car Silverster
filmed himself having an imaginary conversation with LeBron James asking what him what
would he do if he saw an individual threatening another individual with a knife (Abel, 2022).
Silverster continued the conversation saying, “So you don’t care if a Black person kills another
Black person” and then asking what if it was a white cop who kills a Black man to save another
Black man (Abel, 2022). The video ended with Silverster looking out the window saying, “Sorry
guys, you’re on your won, good luck!” (Abel, 2022). Silverster was using the video as a response
to the killing of Ma’Khia Bryant that had happened days before (Abel, 2022).
James Kobel, once the head New York Police Department Equal Employment
Opportunity Division, before being dismissed when he was found guilty be the department’s
disciplinary review board for posting racist, sexist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic post on the
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Rant message board (Abel, 2022). Kobel under the username Clouseau was posting remarks like
“a gunshot wound in the 4-7 [precinct] over the last piece of jerk chicken at the buffet” would be
the first homicide of 2020 (Abel, 2022).
Law enforcement officers and officials use of social media should not be defined by users
like Silverster and Kobel. Social media can and should be used in a positive manner and to help
bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community. Tweets can be sent at the rate of
867 per second equally 52,000 per minute (Snively, 2016). That’s how quickly social media can
influence the community.
Organizational Use of Social Media
The International Association of Chiefs (IACP) acknowledges social media in a valuable tool for
law enforcement departments as it can assist departments and its officers with reaching the
community, problem-solving, investigations, crime prevention (Snively, 2016). According to the
IACP 96% of police departments use social media and report that social media has enhanced
relations with the community (Snively, 2016).
Social media can be used in investigations and to prevent crime. Social media is open-
source information, and most users are not aware they are being monitored (Fallik, et al., 2020).
Open-source information is information that can be found on the web and is publicly available.
After a man’s girlfriend was shot by a rival gang, he begins posting his anger toward the
individuals and posting pictures with guns (Fallik, et al., 2020). This information was relayed to
the patrol officers by the sergeant monitoring social media and they were able to prevent another
homicide (Fallik, et al., 2020).
Detective Jack uses social media for proactive intelligence gathering. For example, a large
gathering, peaceful or not, is being talked about on social media, Detective Jack plans an
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operation to monitor the gathering and then has that intel from the gathering if need to identify
suspects in the future (Fallik, et al., 2020).
In addition to using social media as an investigative tool, law enforcement departments
also use social media as recruitment tools. Social media recruitment tools showcase what their
departments do and what career opportunities they have to offer. Jacksonville Sheriff’s office has
successfully used social media seeing an increase in police applications (R.Guther, personal
communication, July 19, 2025).
Law Enforcement Best Practice for the Regulation Officer Social Media Activity
As social media continues to be a power communication tool police departments and law
enforcement agencies must implement policies, procedures, and guidelines of the department’
use of social media and its employees. These policies, procedures, and guidelines must
encompass both on and off duty and include disciplinary actions that will be taken if the policies,
procedures, and guidelines are broken. Additionally, every employee must receive training on
the department’s policies, procedures, and guidelines for social media.
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department social media policy is strict, they cannot post on social
media while in uniform or speak about the department while on or off duty (R.Guther, personal
communication, July 19, 2025). Failing to follow the department’s social media policy can result
in informal warning and go as far as being terminated depending on the severity and number of
infractions (R.Guther, personal communication, July 19, 2025). The department does provide
some training and as written policies and guidelines (R.Guther, personal communication, July
19, 2025).
Clay County Sheriff’s Department Intelligence Analyst K. Doyle stated a similar policy to
their neighboring agency, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department. She does not remember receiving
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any formal training on the department’s social media policy. Doyle stated that the department
uses an electronic system that all employees’ login to and read the department’s policies then
click and acknowledgement box at the end of the policy as training. (personal communication,
July 10, 2025).
Departmental Policy Outline
Official Department Use of Social Media
1. Introduction.
Professionalism, ethics, and integrity and essential to maintaining a positive relationship with the
community. To maintain the public’s trust and respect there must be restrictions placed on our
conduct and appearance both on and off duty. An employee’s actions must never bring discredit
to the police department or to the individual employee.
2. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish department guidelines on the use of social media. Social
media includes but is not limited to social networking sites, blogs, podcasts, online chatting,
video sharing sites, and photo sharing or any other social media platform that allows for the
facilitation of various forms of online communication, interaction, and content sharing.
3. Policy
A.Personal Usage. The department policy is that no employee may post photos on social media
while in uniform or conducting work for the department, and employees cannot post about the
department while on or off duty.
B. Investigations. Social media may be used in investigations to gain evidence or information
about missing or wanted person(s) or web-based crimes.
C. Community Outreach and Information. The department may use social media to alert the
community with valuable information, to solicit and receive crime tips, online reporting, and
distribute information to the community.
D. Recruitment and Employment. The department may use social media to post recruiting
information for new applicants.
3. Authorization and Administration.
To gain authorization to create social media accounts on behalf of the agency a written request
must be submitted to the Sheriff through the public information officer.
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Conclusion
Social media has brought about exciting and new ways to communicate but not without its
challenges, especially for law enforcement. Social media allows for transparency between law
enforcement departments and the public and that has strengthened the relationship between the
two. Social media has also highlighted law enforcement departments and officers in both a
positive and negative light. Social media assists with investigations, brings home missing loved
ones, and makes it hard for those who are wanted by the law to hide. It also showcases to the
public when officers commit misconduct or express views showing bias opinions that are
discriminatory in nature.
Social media has forced law enforcement departments to create social media policies,
procedures, and guidelines to train their officers on and hold officers accountable when they
violate policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Proverbs 10:9 “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he makes his ways crooked
will found out” (New International Version Holy Bible, 2011) Kobel thought he was posting
hateful, disrespectful, discriminatory message board post anonymously until he was found out.
He lacked integrity and his crooked actions eventually came to light.
Proverbs 19:1 “Better is poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in
speech and is a fool” (New International Version Holy Bible, 2011) Silverster lost his job
because he did not have the integrity. His unnecessary speech made him look foolish to the
world.
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References
Abel, J. (2022). Cop-" like"(""): The First Amendment, Criminal Procedure, and the Regulation
of Police Social Media Speech.LStan. L. Rev.,L74, 1199. Cop-"like" (" "): The First
Amendment, Criminal Procedure, and the Regulation of Police Social Media Speech 74 Stanford
Law Review 2022
Doyle, K (personal communication, July 19, 2025) “what is your agency’s policy on social
Fallik, S. W., Deuchar, R., Crichlow, V. J., & Hodges, H. (2020). Policing through social media:
a qualitative exploration.LInternational Journal of Police Science & Management.,L22(2),
208–218. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461355720911948
Gutcher, R (personal communication, July 19, 2025) “what is your agency’s policy on social
New International Version Holy Bible. 2011.
Snively, D. T. (2016). Effective social media use by law enforcement agencies: a case study
approach to quantifying and improving efficacy and developing agency best practices.
Effective Social Media Use by Law Enforcement Agencies: A Case Study Approach to
Quantifying and Improving Efficacy and Developing Agency Best Practices Dav
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