Policy Text
KISSIMMEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
General Order 207 – Social Media
Page 1 of 5 TITLE: SOCIAL MEDIA 207
EFFECTIVE: 07/01/2015 REVISED: 09/19/2025 SCOPE : ALL EMPLOYEES
REVIEW AUTHORITY: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPUTY CHIEF
CFA STANDARDS: 1.06 (D), 32.05 (A-D)
207.01 General Provisions 207.0 4 Personal Use On Duty
207.02 Procedures 207.05 Personal Use Off Duty
207.03 Potential Uses
Policy: The Department endorses the use of secure social media to further its mission by enhancing
communication and information exchange. This policy establishes the Department's position on
the utility and management of social media and provides guidance on its management,
administration, and oversight. This policy is not meant to address one particular form of social
media; rather social media in general, as advances in technology shall occur and new tools shall
emerge.
207.01 General Provisions: [CFA 32.05 – D] The Departmen t endorses the secure use of social
media to enhance communication, collaboration, and information; streamline processes and foster
productivity. It recognizes social media provides a new, a nd potentially valuable means of assisting
the Department and its’ employees in meeting community outreach programs, problem solving,
investigations, crime prevention, and related objectives.
It also recognizes the personal use of social media can have a bearing on Department employees
in their official capacity. As such, this General Order provides information of a precautionary
nature, as well as prohibitions on the use of social media by employees.
207.02 Procedures: [CFA 32.05 – B] All Department social media sites or pages shall be approved
by the City Manager or their designee. The Department social media sites or pages shall be
administered by the Public Safety Offi cer. Social media pages shall clearly indicate they are
maintained by the Department and shall have Department contact information prominently
displayed. [CFA 1.06 – D, 32.05 – A]
Social media content shall adhere to applicable laws, regulations and polic ies including all
information technology and records management policies.
Social media pages shall state the opinions expressed by visitors to the pages do not reflect the
opinions of the Department. Pages shall clearly indicate posted comments shall be monitored and
the Department reserves the right to remove obscene or off -topic comments , personal attacks ,
KISSIMMEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
General Order 207 – Social Media
Page 2 of 5 profanity , solicitation of commerce , threats , violence, and information which may tend to
compromise the safety or security of employees or the public.
Pages shall clearly indicate that any content posted or submitted for posting is subject to public
disclosure.
With the exception of authorized criminal investigations, employees repre senting the Department
via social media outlets shall ensure they [CFA 32.05 – D]:
a. Conduct themselves at all times as representatives of the Department and accordingly, shall
adhere to all Department standards of conduct, and observe conventionally accept ed
protocol and proper decorum;
b. Identify themselves as a member of the Department;
c. Refrain from making statements about the guilt or innocence of any suspect or arrestee or
make comments concerning pending prosecution;
d. Refrain from posting, transmitting, or otherwise disseminating confidential information
including photographs or videos related to Department training; activities; or work -related
assignments without express written permission; and
e. Refrain from conduct t hat could be deemed as political activities or private business
ventures.
Employees shall not use personally owned devices to manage Department social media activities
without the express written permission of the Chief of Police or designee. Additional ly, employees
shall observe and abide by all copyright, trademark, and service mark restrictions when posting
materials for Department social media activities.
207.03 Potential Uses: [CFA 32.05 – B] Social media is a valuable investigative tool when
seeking evidence or information about:
a. Missing persons;
b. Wanted persons;
c. Gang activity;
d. Crime perpetrated online (i.e. cyberbullying, cyberstalking, etc.); and/or
e. Photos and videos of a crime posted by a participant or observer.
Social media may be used for community outreach and engagement by:
KISSIMMEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
General Order 207 – Social Media
Page 3 of 5 a. Providing crime prevention tips;
b. Offering online reporting opportunities;
c. Sharing crime maps and data; and/or
d. Soliciting tips about unsolved crimes (i.e. Crime Line).
Social media may be used to make time sensitive notifications related to:
a. Road closures;
b. Special events;
c. Weather emergencies; and/or
d. Missing or endangered persons.
Social media shall be used when conducting background investigations of job applicants.
Candidates for in -house positions may also have their social media sites reviewed for any conflict
of interest, or vulgar or improper activity. [CFA 32.05 – C]
207.04 Personal Use On -Duty: [CFA 32.05 – C] Agency members shall not access social media
sites for personal business w hile on -duty.
207.05 Personal Use Off Duty: Agency members shall adhere to the following when using social
media:
a. Agency members are free to express themselves as private citizens on social media