Policy Text
9/02 (Rev 7/03)
INTERNET AFFILIATION
The purpose of this order is to establish param eters regarding the release of
confidential information on the Internet and other on-line serv ices, in an off-duty
capacity. I. General
This department recognizes that personal use of the Internet an d other on-line
services by department employees is increasing. This order add resses
personal off-duty use of the Inte rnet and is not applicable to employees using
the Internet or other on-line services in an authorized manner within the scope
of their assigned duties, during their normal working shift, fo r the purpose of
this order, on-line technologies include the Internet and any o ther on-line
computer communications service.
II. Release of Confidential Information
Employees of the Sheriff’s Depar tment shall not display any off icial seal,
insignia, badge, uniform or other identifying Sheriff’s Departm ent equipment on
any personal web page(s) and shall not distribute the aforement ioned items
through any on-line technology. Thi s section shall include alt ered images that
appear to be legitimate Sheri ff’s Department identifiers.
Employees shall not disclose, through any on-line technology, o r any other
means, confidential information obtained as a result of their e mployment with
the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department.
III. Employment and Affiliation
Employees shall not make any ref erences to employment and affil iation with
this department on any personal web page, chat room, usenet new sgroup, or
any on-line technology that may l ead any person viewing the con tent to
conclude that the employee is act ing as an official spokesperso n for the
Sacramento County Sheriff’s D epartment. Content includes viewa ble/audible
content and content within the coding of files (source code).
2 9/02 (Rev 7/03) IV. Personal Web Page
Employees shall not create per sonal web pages nor register tho se pages with
any Internet search engine in such a manner as to represent the page as a
Sheriff’s Department page. Any e xisting web pages, search engi ne registrations
and references of said nature s hall be immediately removed.
All personal web pages, within a personal web site, containing public information
distributed by the Sheriff’s D epartment shall have the followin g disclaimer:
This web page is not an official web page of the Sacramento She riff’s
Department. The opinions expressed and content in this site ar e the sole
responsibility of this web author. Opinions expressed herein a re not the
official opinion of the Sacr amento Sheriff’s Department.
The disclaimer shall be placed at the top of all qualifying web pages and shall
have a font size not less than 14 point, or + 1 html font size.
The Commander of the Technical Serv ices Division shall be the d efinitive
authority for interpretation o f any element of this order.
V. Affiliated Web Pages
Those employees or work units, pursuant to their work responsib ilities or unit
function, who plan to create a web page or a web site that is a ffiliated or
associated with the Sheriff’s D epartment, or which uses a depar tmental seal,
insignia, badge, uniform or ot her identifying department equipm ent , shall obtain
written approval by the Admini strative Services Chief Deputy prior to creating
such a web page or web site.