Policy Text
1 (12/13/2019 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
INSTRUCTIONAL ORDER
Subject: CONSENT TO USE PHOTOGRAPH
Index as: Blog Follow Podcast Speech
Comment Followers Post Tweet
Concerted Activity Informed Consent Profile VLOG
Consent Off-duty Proof of Life Website
Consent to Use Photograph On-duty Social Media WIKI
Data Extraction Page Social Networking World Wide Web (WWW)
Decoy WWW
Accreditation Standards: 43.1.2
Cross Reference: I.O. V.3:07 Human Trafficking
ISB SOP II -02 Informant Control Restricted
ISB SOP II -05 Equipment
City Administrative Policy #070700 Social Media
Replaces : NEW POLICY
This Order establishes guidelines for the use of any St. Pe tersburg Police Department Officer’s photograph (s) on the
internet or mobile devices . It consists of:
I. Policy
II. Purpose
III. Definitions
IV. Procedures
V. Storage of Photographs
VI. Photographs for Court Proceedings
VII. Training
I. POLICY
A. It is the policy of the St. Petersburg P olice Department that all sworn personnel , when consenting to the release
of their photograph via the internet or mobile devices for the purpose of criminal investigations , shall sign the Consent to
Use Photograph form authorizing its use .
II. PURPOSE
A. Through the course of an investigation, a Un it within the Department may need to use photographs in an
undercover/fictitious capacity while communicating with subjects online via the internet or mobile device, i.e. subjects who
are seeking to engage in illegal activities with children.
B. This Order details the polic ies and procedures to be used by Department Units for obtaining informed consent
from Officers for the use of their individual photographs in the course of an investigation .
DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
November 2019 Immediately V.3:08
Distribution: All Employees
Instructional Order V.3:08
2 (12/13/2019 ) III. DEFINITIONS
A. Blog – A commentary or self-published journal allowing visitors to post comments, feedback , or reactions.
B. Comment – The expression of a reaction or opinion on a webpage through remarks, in text, or video.
C. Concerted Activity – An activity that is protected under federal labor law.
D. Consent – The voluntary agreement or acquiescence by a person who is of age ; has the requisite mental
capa city, knowledge, and understanding; and is not under duress or coercion .
E. Data Extraction – The process of extracting and/or finding pertinent data from an array of social media and internet
related sources. This process can be used as an investigative tool due to the frequency of persons often posting
information about crimes they have committ ed on social media websites.
F. Decoy – An Officer who assumes the identity or physical appearance of a victim or potential victim of a crime with
the goal of apprehending a suspect in the commission of a crime.
G. Follow – A term closely associ ated with socia l media websites that refers to the ability to see others ’ updates on a
personal timeline , newsfeed, message board, or home page .
H. Followers – People who receive updates for a blog or social media website (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, etc.) .
I. Informed Consent – An agreement to do something or to allow something to happen, made with complete
knowledge of all relevant facts, including the risks involved and/or any available alternatives.
J. Off-duty – The t ime frame outside of a regular tour of duty and/or assigned duties.
K. On-duty – A regular tour of duty and/or assigned duties, participant in a special assignment for the Department, or
when an incident occurs requiring members to act in the capacity of a n Officer.
L. Page – A section of a social media websit e where the material included is managed and displayed by an
individual(s) with access or administrator rights.
M. Podcast – A program (audio or video) made available in digital format that can be download ed or streamed over
the Internet .
N. Post – Any content uploaded, entered, or placed on a blog, any type of computerized bulletin or message board,
forum, or social media site. This includes but is not limited to the act of creating, uploading, editing , or adding text,
photographs, audio, video, or any other multimedia file to any social media outlet.
O. Profile – Information that a user provides about himself or herself on a social networking site. For the purpose of
this Order , profiles on social media sites will contain information about the Department.
P. Proof of Life – Documents, photographs, videos, or phone calls used as an investigative tool to confirm or solidify
the undercover persona.
Q. Social Media – Online sources that allow people to communicate, share, and/or exchange information with others
via some form of on line or cellular network platform. Information may include, but is not limited to, text, photographs, video,
audio, and other multimedia files.
R. Social Networking – The development of social and professional contacts; the sharing of information and services
among people with a common interest.
S. Speech – Expression or communication of thoughts or opinions in spoken words, in writing, by expressive conduct,
symbolism, photographs, videotape, or related forms of communication.
T. Tweet – A posted message on