Social Media Policy

Policy & Procedures                 No. 4.25
                                  Subject:
                  Social Media Policy
                                  Issuing Authority:                                       Effective Date:   Review Date:
                     Chief of Police                       04/26/2019   11/10/2023
                                                                                 References:

 Review
 Revision   11/17/2020
 Reissued
 Dates:

CALEA STANDARDS: 54.1.2

I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES
   Professionalism, ethics, and integrity are of paramount importance in the
   law enforcement community. To achieve and maintain the public’s highest
   level of respect, we must place reasonable restrictions on our conduct and
   appearance, and hold to these standards of conduct whether on or off duty.
  An employee’s actions on the internet must never bring the department into
   disrepute, nor should conduct be detrimental to its efficient operation.

II. POLICY
    It is the policy of the Canton Police Department to:

       Utilize computer resources (Agencies social media accounts such as
      Twitter, FaceBook to name a few) to enhance our ability to perform our
      mission and improve officer safety through the availability of information
      while maximizing security protocols and system integrity. 54.1.2 (2A)

     Employees of the Canton Police Department have a right to have
      personal web pages or social networking sites. Use of Canton Police
     Department computers or equipment for the purpose of social
     networking is prohibited, along with accessing social networking sites
     from any other peripheral devise while on duty, or working. Exceptions
      to this rule may be discussed with a supervisor/OIC if the purpose of its
     use is associated with a pending, or on-going investigation.

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Employees of the Canton Police Department are also prohibited from
      posting, transmitting and/or disseminating any photographs, video or
     audio recordings, likenesses or images of departmental logos, emblems,
      uniforms, badges, patches, marked or unmarked vehicles, equipment or
      other material that specifically identifies the Canton Police Department,
     on any personal or social networking website or web page, without the
      express written permission of the Chief of Police, or his/her designee.

III. PURPOSE

     The purpose of this policy is to give employees guidance regarding
      appropriate content for personal, social networking websites, web pages
     and other electronically transmitted or hard copied material with respect
      to the use of Canton Police Department images, material, logos, or
      reference to those entities. The integrity of this Department must be
     above reproach. Employee’s personal sites are subject to admissibility in
      court proceedings. Therefore, all employees must avoid any conduct
     which would compromise this Department’s integrity and thus, undercut
      the public confidence in this Department or this profession.

IV. PROCEDURE 54.1.2 (2B)

     No employee shall represent themselves, directly or indirectly, in any
      public forum as a member of the Canton Police Department either by
       text, photograph, or image depicting the uniform, badge, patches,
     marked or unmarked vehicles, equipment, or other material that
       specifically identifies the Canton Police Department with other
      information, opinion, or posture that would bring unfavorable criticism
      or embarrassment upon the department. All employees shall make note
       of the following procedures as it relates to social networking:

             a. Employees having personal web pages or other types of internet
               postings which can be accessed by the public, shall not place or
               allow photographs or depictions of themselves dressed in
             uniform and/or displaying official identification, patches or
              badges, or in any other way, either directly or indirectly, identify
              themselves as an employee of the Canton Police Department for
             any reason, without approval as indicated in this policy.

             b. Photographs or other depictions of department uniforms,
              badges, patches, marked or unmarked cruisers shall not be
              posted on personal internet sites without the expressed written
              approval of the Chief of Police or his/her designee.

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c. Photographs of the inside of the police building as well as any
       crime or accident scene shall not be posted without the consent
        of the Chief of Police or his/her designee.

    d. Employees are prohibited from posting, transmitting, and or
       disseminating any pictures or videos of official department
        training, activities, or work-related assignments without the
       express written consent of the Chief of Police, or his/her
       designee. This includes, but is not limited to any photographs
      taken of crime scenes, automobile collisions, or mug shots.

     e. Employees wishing to use photographs, depictions, or
       references to the Canton Police Department must receive
       approval of the Chief of Police or his/her designee.

      f. Employees are prohibited from posting, on any public forum,
      any information regarding any past/active investigations, which
       are conducted because of their employment with the Canton
        Police Department without the express consent of the Chief of
        Police or his/her designee.

     g. Employees are prohibited from using Department titles, logos,
      emblems, uniforms and other material to create business cards,
       letterhead or similar material without the written consent of the
       Chief of Police or his/her designee.

    h. Employees are prohibited from using their title/position in
       private correspondence, whether electronic or hard copied. This
       includes, but is not limited to, signature lines in a personal
       email account, without the express consent of the Chief of
        Police.

       i. The exception to this Policy are portraits, photographs or any
       video recordings taken during Department-sanctioned, official
      ceremonies such as Police Academy graduation, promotional
       ceremonies, etc. These photographs and/or recordings shall
       not disgrace or disparage employees or the Department in any
      manner, nor shall said items be placed on any webpage or other
       electronic media or in hard copied media material that in any
      way brings discredit to the Department of the profession.

       j.  Employees who post photos, comments, etc. of other
      department employees must inform and seek approval from the
       employee(s) before posting same.

    k. Any employee becoming aware of having knowledge of a posting
        of any website or web page in violation of the provisions of this
       policy shall notify his/her supervisor/OIC immediately.

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l.  Sites deemed inappropriate, whether an employment
         association or not, bringing discredit to the Canton Police
        Department or promoting misconduct, whether on or off duty,
       may be investigated through internal administrative procedure
         or through a criminal process.

     m. All employees shall treat as confidential the official business of
         the Canton Police Department.

      n. No employee shall release, either directly or indirectly,
         information concerning crimes, accidents, or violations of
        ordinances or statutes to persons outside the Canton Police
        Department without seeking approval from a Supervisor/OIC.

       o. No Employee shall reveal any unauthorized information to any
        person not a member of the Canton Police Department unless
         otherwise authorized to receive such information, such as
        another law enforcement agency.

      p. No employee shall gossip about the affairs of the Canton Police
        Department with persons outside the agency.

       q.  If an employee indicates in any public forum any opinion on a
        police/communications related issue, then that employee shall
         state that the views and opinions expressed are the employee’s
         personal ones, and not those of the Canton Police Department.

Note: Any employee seeking approval to use reference to the Canton
      Police Department on any personal website, web page, or other
      public forum shall submit a request for approval to the Chief
      of Police or his/her designee via the chain of command.
     Employees are reminded to exercise good judgment and
     demonstrate personal accountability when choosing to
      participate on social networking sites.

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