Rescue Humor The Entertaining Side of Police, Fire & EMS
It seems nearly every week there is a news story about someone in Public Safety getting in trouble for something they do on a social media web page. A dumb tweet on twitter. An inappropriate photo posted to Facebook. Even simply click “like” on a controversial posting on Facebook made by someone else.
The Facebook Police, to police us online…
Does your agency have a social media policy?
If not, does your agency have a policy that covers “Conduct Unbecoming”? As it stands right now my department does not have a social media policy. But our Conduct Unbecoming policy has language that notes “employees shall conduct themselves at all times, both on and off duty, in such a manner so as not to bring discredit upon the Police Department.”
Many supervisors view this passage as covering postings to social media web pages. Thus far my agency has taken the view point that employees cannot post things that are critical of department operations, or other department employees. They also frown upon any posting showing a person in uniform doing anything other than official police business.
At this time it is not in policy but there was a memo issued that officers should not “send or respond to friend requests” from people the officer is interacting with as part of an investigation, or persons who are known criminal offenders in our community.
To me this is common sense. As anyone who works in Police/Fire/EMS knows common sense is not that common anymore. Time and time again our fellow public safety coworkers can have a lapse of common sense.
Please note I never mention the name of the agency I currently work for, nor do I mention my former employer. I also do not use social media under my real name. I know that my humor may cause some people a bit of heartburn So I never want my humor to be viewed as a reflection of my department.
In closing please enjoy RescueHumor but also make sure your enjoyment of this page and our Facebook page does not put you in harms way.
