“I Declare this an Unlawful Assembly” Did they get my Tweet?

Photo: © 2011 Chris Ryan

Law enforcement agencies across the US and around the world are discovering that police social media has become part of their world. Sometimes it’s a tool that improves communications and other times it's a moment in time that wasn't their finest.

Imagine the surprise of people protesting teacher layoffs, austerity measures or a G 20 summit when they receive a Tweet telling them to clear the area or declaring an unlawful assembly.

A school resource officer in Mesquite, Texas, was unwittingly thrust into the social media spotlight recently. The video showing his use of pepper spray on a wily squirrel was seen millions of times on YouTube and Facebook.

Dunwoody Police Department near Atlanta, Georgia decided to Tweet crime calls over a 24 hour period in an effort to educate the public about what officers face on a daily basis. The jury is still out as to whether citizens became bored with the family bickering, burglar alarms or other calls that officers usually handle. It's likely they returned to their 10 hours of "real police" on CSI or Law and Order.

It's important for law enforcement agencies to understand how the social networking phenomenon will impact their officers and the communities they serve. They should consider police social media and police media relations training for their leaders, supervisors, officers, and public information officers (PIO).

Social media is whack-a-mole for police

Photo: Chris Ryan © 2011

                  

Police, sheriffs and public safety agencies increasingly use social media to communicate with the public and news media. New programs, apps and technologies are popping up everywhere. Many departments feel like social media is a game of whack-a-mole for police.

Everyday police executives, supervisors, public information officers (PIO) and social media officers are inundated with Facebook and Twitter posts, blogs, comments, photos and videos. Most of the time, little or no action is required but other times a simple comment, photo or short video will lead hours of work in response.

Albuquerque Police learned recently how a few words on Facebook can become a national story. An officer involved in an on-duty shooting became the story when a reporter discovered the officer's Facebook profile listed his occupation "human waste disposal."

Detroit Police Department had to remind officers about their code of conduct and confidentiality as it relates to sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace and other social media. This happened soon after it was revealed that crime scene photos taken by an officer with a cell phone had been posted online.

There are endless stories across the US and around the world about officer's inappropriate comments, photos and videos. These items reflect negatively on the officers involved, the agencies that they represent and most importantly impact the confidence of the public that they serve.

Law enforcement agencies will likely be playing whack-a-mole for a while. It's imperative that they prioritize Police Social Media and Police Media Relations and recognize its value in communicating more directly with the public they serve. They'll need Police Social Media training, cutting-edge technology and updated social media policies.

Color-coded terror alerts are sooo yesterday, according to DHS

Photo: Chris Ryan  © 2011



Color-coded terror alerts are sooo yesterday, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Those confusing orange, yellow and red terror threat alerts won't be celebrating their 9th birthday afterall. The color-coded alerts introduced in January of 2003 by the then new Department of Homeland Security, are being phased out, according to DHS Sec. Janet Napolitano.

DHS has decided 140 characters on Twitter and status updates on Facebook are the way to tell followers and friends about terror threats. Mainstream news and other traditional channels of information will have alert details as well.

Homeland Security will be keepin' it fresh with an expiration date on the alerts so we'll know when to get back to normal.

Police and other law enforcement agencies will continue providing pertinent information to their communities by police social media such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Nixle, text and email.





Social Media is Whack-a-Mole for Police

Police, sheriffs and public safety agencies increasingly use social media to communicate with the public and news media. New programs, apps and technologies are popping up everywhere. Many departments feel like social media is a game of whack-a-mole for police.
Everyday police executives, supervisors, public information officers (PIO) and social media officers are inundated with Facebook and Twitter posts, blogs, comments, photos and videos. Most of the time, little or no action is required but other times a simple comment, photo or short video will lead hours of work in response.

Albuquerque Police learned recently how a few words on Facebook can become a national story. An officer involved in an on-duty shooting became the story when a reporter discovered the officer's Facebook profile listed his occupation "human waste disposal."

Detroit Police Department had to remind officers about their code of conduct and confidentiality as it relates to sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace and other social media. This happened soon after it was revealed that crime scene photos taken by an officer with a cell phone had been posted online.

There are endless stories across the US and around the world about officer's inappropriate comments, photos and videos. These items reflect negatively on the officers involved, the agencies that they represent and most importantly impact the confidence of the public that they serve.

Law enforcement agencies will likely be playing whack-a-mole for a while. It's imperative that they prioritize Police Social Media and Police Media Relations and recognize its value in communicating more directly with the public they serve. They'll need Police Social Media training, cutting-edge technology and updated social media policies.