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SOCIAL NETWORKING, PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES AND CAMERAS GENERAL ORDER #15,09 Adopted: 10/02/2012 Updated: 10/02/2012 Replaces: NEW Reviewed: 10/02/2012 PURPOSE To establish guidelines and standards for social networking/social media in all of its related forms and to establish guidelines for use of Persqnal Communication Devices (PCD) by sworn and non-sworn members of the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Officé. To maintain the public's highest level of trust, reasonable restrictions must be placed on our professional and private conduct in regards to technology and members must hold to these standards of conduct whether on or off duty. Because the County recognizes that social networking plays a burgeoning and often vital role in offices’ lives, this policy also is intended as a guide for employees when engaging in social media as it relates to their employment or representation of employment as a member of the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office. POLICY Members of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office shall be subject to standards of conduct as outlined in this policy when they interact on and/or use social networking/social media technology, PCDs, and cameras depicting or referencing your official capacity. The policy is intended to provide a reasonable standard of conduct to ensure the professionalism of its members and the integrity of the Sheriff's Office. DEFINITION SOCIAL NETWORKING: A social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Most social network services are web based and provide a variety of ways for users to interact, such as e-mail and instant messaging services. Popular current examples of social networking sites include Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. The absence of or lack of explicit reference to, a specific site does not limit the extent of the application of this policy. PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE: PCDs include, but are not limited to all cellular phones, Smartphones, ['Pads, Android Tablets, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), cameras, and other wireless two-way communication and/or portable internet access devices. GENERAL ORDER #15.09 1 POLICY GUIDELINES A. SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE WHILE ON DUTY 1.Sheriffs Office members are prohibited from posting, updating or sharing and/or using: social networking sifes while on duty unless it is for County-approved business purposes. No Sheriff's Office member while on duty shall post any information regarding their work activities or professional affiliation to any social networking site. This does not apply to any Sheriff's Office authorized or maintained sites for the purposes of official business. This paragraph does not seek to limit off-duty conduct. . TM. B. SQGIAL MEDIA USAGE WHILE OFP-DUTY 1.Sheriff's Office members may identify themselves as employees of the Sheriff's Office. However, once you identify yourself as a member of the Sheriffs Office, you take on added. responsibility for maintaining an acceptable level of conduct while you are employed with the Department. Members shall carefully consider whether or not to identify themselves as a member of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, employee of the County of Santa Clara or as a peace officer while using social networking sites. Appearing in uniform or identifying yourself as associated with the Sheriffs Office could trigger a review of the posting to determine if it violates our standard of conduct. When using any of the numerous social media sites, Sheriffs Office members should also bear in mind that any information posted may be made visible to the public at large, including potential citizen contacts, suspects, witnesses or victims of crimes. No Sheriffs Office member shall knowingly post, or cause to be posted, or disseminate photographs, video images, audio files, or text documents that constitutes confidential or law enforcement sensitive information. Examples of such confidential or law enforcement sensitive information includes but is not limited to information not appropriate for public dissemination such as: a. Photographs taken in the course of your employment with the Sheriffs Office including traffic collisions, crime scenes, contraband, persons in custody, witnesses, victims, vehicles, equipment or the interior of any Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Facility. b. Crime or Incident Reports including any form of official correspondence, official memorandum and/or policies to or from the Department or County, c. Audio files, video files, training videos or transcription of any official, non-public statement or interview. No Sheriff's Office member shall knowingly post, or cause to be posted, or disseminate photographs, video images, audio files, or text documents depicting the Sheriff's Office or County property,