Policy Text
Policy
389Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2020/05/28, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentDepartment Use of Social Media - 1Department Use of Social Media
389.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidelines to ensure that any use of social media on behalf of the Department
is consistent with the department mission.
The department endorses the secure use of social media to consistently strengthen community
relationships, foster communication and engage the community. This policy establishes the
Mountain View Police Department's position on the utility 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 will occur and new
tools and platforms will emerge.
389.2 POLICY
Social media provides a valuable means of assisting the department and its personnel in helping
to maximize community engagement while also pursuing problem-solving, investigative, crime
prevention and information dissemination related objectives. The department also recognizes the
role that these platforms play in the personal lives of some department personnel. The personal
use of social media can have bearing on department personnel, or the Department’s overall
mission, in their official capacity. As such, this policy provides information of a precautionary nature
as well as restrictions on the use of social media by department personnel.
Department members shall ensure that the use or access of social media is done in a manner
that protects the constitutional rights of all.
389.3 DEFINITIONS
Social Media: A category of Internet-based resources that integrate user-generated content
and user participation. This includes, but is not limited to, social networking sites (Facebook,
Twitter, Nextdoor), photo and video-sharing apps (Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube), wikis
(Wikipedia), blogs and other news sites.
Content: Any item posted such as, but not limited to, written work, photos, videos, etc.
Page/ Profile: The specific portion of a social media website or a mobile-based social app where
content is displayed and managed by an individual or individuals with administrator rights.
Post: Content an individual shares on a social media site or the act of publishing content on a site.
Social Networks: On-line platforms where users can create profiles, share information and
socialize with others using a range of technologies.
Speech: Expression or communication of thoughts or opinions in spoken words, in writing,
by expressive conduct, symbolism, photographs, video recordings or related forms of
communication.
Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Department Use of Social Media
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2020/05/28, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentDepartment Use of Social Media - 2389.4 AUTHORIZED USERS
Only members authorized by the Police Chief, or the authorized designee, may utilize social media
on behalf of the Department. Authorized members shall use only department-approved equipment
during the normal course of duties to post and monitor department-related social media, unless
they are specifically authorized to do otherwise by their supervisors
The Police Chief, or those he/she has directed to do so, may develop specific guidelines identifying
the type of content that may be posted. Any content that does not conform to the guidelines should
be approved by a supervisor prior to posting.
Members authorized to maintain a social media presence, where the primary purpose of the
account or platform is professional and depicting oneself as a member of the Mountain View Police
Department, shall be trained and certified by the department Social Media Coordinator in social
media best practices prior to becoming active on social media platforms. All authorized users will
abide by the department voice, tone, and style as outlined in the MVPD Style Guide.
Requests to post information over department social media by members who are not authorized
to post should be made through the Social Media Coordinator.
389.5 AUTHORIZED CONTENT
A. Department-Sanctioned Presence
1.Determine Strategy
(a)Where possible, each social media profile or page should include an introductory
statement that clearly specifies the purpose and scope of the agency's presence
on the web site.
(b)Where possible, the page(s) should link to the department's official website.
(c)Social media page(s) shall be designed for the target audience(s) with the goal
in mind of connecting with those that utilize that platform, not necessarily as just
a one-way push for information.
2.Procedures
(a)All department social media pages or profiles shall be approved by the Police
Chief or his or her designee and shall be administered and monitored by the
Social Media Coordinator or as otherwise determined.
(b)Social media pages shall clearly indicate they are maintained by the department
and shall have department contact information prominently displayed.
(c)Social media content shall adhere to applicable laws, regulations and
policies, including all information technology and records management policies.
i.Content is subject to public records laws. Relevant records retention
schedules apply to social media content.
ii.Content must be managed, stored and retrieved to comply with open
records laws and discovery laws and policies.
Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Department Use of Social Media
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2020/05/28, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentDepartment Use of Social Media - 3(d)Where possible, social media pages should state that the opinions expressed
by visitors to the page(s) do not reflect the opinions of the department.
i.Pages shall clearly indicate that posted comments will be monitored and
that the department reserves the right to remove obscenities, comments
that incite or encourage violence, or targeted attacks on protected