206 Social Media

206 POLICY SOCIAL MEDIA ESTABLISHED BY CHIEF DAVID MAGNUSSON 5/2019RELATED POLICIES: Reviewed by Chief David Magnusson 5/2019 PURPOSE: To establish protocols and procedures that will enable Village of El Portal Police Department Personnel to use social media in a way that will guide them away from any pitfalls that could cause them embarrassment and/or their employment with the Village of El Portal. POLICY : Public employees occupy a trusted position in the community, and thus their statements have the potential to contravene the policies and performance of the Department. Due to the nature of the work it is necessary that employees of the Department be subject to certain reasonable limitations on their speech and expression. The Village of El Portal Police Department recognizes that social media provides a valuable means by which may engage in the exchange of information as well as to interact with others. The purpose of this policy is to outline expectations of all Department employees with respect to their personal use of social media, blogging and social networking sites. Employees should consider that biased-based or derogatory posting may have adverse consequences such as being used as exculpatory evidence in the impeachment of witness testimony in court proceedings, and public as well as private embarrassment This policy shall apply to all of the Village of El Portal Department employees. Employees should be aware that postings on media or social networking sites are not private; nor all form of speech posted protected by the First Amendment and may tarnish both the employee’s and the Department’s reputation and diminish the public’s trust and confidence. DEFINITION : Social Media: A category of Internet-based resources that integrate user-generated content and user participation. This includes but is no limited to, social networking sites, microblogging sites, photo and video sharing sites, wikis, blogs, and new sites. Social Media is an umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words and pictures. Social Networks: Online platforms where users can create profiles, share information And socialize with others using a range of technologies. PROCEDURE: Employees who choose to maintain or participate in social media or social networking platforms shall conduct themselves with professionalism and in such a manner that will not reflect negatively upon the Department, its mission, or the employee. Employees are free to express themselves as private citizens on social media sites to the degree that their speech does not impair working relationships of this Department for which loyalty and confidentiality are important, impede the performance of duties, impair discipline and harmony among coworkers, or negatively affect the public perception of the Department. Employees are free to express themselves as private citizens on social media sites to the degree that their speech does not impair working relationships of this Department for which loyalty and confidentiality are important, impede the performance of duties, impair discipline and harmony among coworkers, or negatively affect the public perception of the Department and in a manner that would meaningfully impair the efficiency of the department. All employees are cautioned that speech on-or off duty, made pursuant to their official duties is not protected under the First Amendment and may form a basis for discipline. Unless authorized, by the Chief of Police employees shall not implicitly or by inference identify themselves as an employee of the Village of El Portal Police Department. Additionally, Department logos, uniforms, or similar identifying items shall not be used on personal web pages without approval from the Chief of Police. Furthermore, weaponry, owned by this Department and/or owned personally or privately, shall not be displayed or referenced to, in any multimedia format, on a social media, or social networking sites if such violence. PROHIBITIONS: Employees are prohibited from posting any speech containing or acts and statements or other forms of speech that ridicule, malign, disparage, or otherwise express bias against any race, any religion, or any protected class of individuals, or speech reflecting behavior that would reasonably be considered reckless or irresponsible. Employees are prohibited from divulging information gained by reason of their authority; make any statements, speeches, appearances, and endorsements; or publish materials that could reasonably be considered to represent the views or position of the Department without express authorization. Employees should be aware they may be subject to civil litigation for: Publishing or posting false information that harms the reputation of another person, group, or organization; and/or publishing or posting private facts and personal information about someone without their permission that has not been previously revealed to the public, is not of legitimate public concern, and would be offensive to a reasonable person.; and/or using someone else’s name, unlawful, derogatory, harassing, torturous, threatening, or sexually explicit language, images, likeness, or other personal attributes without that person’s permission for an Page 2 of 3 exploitative purpose; and/or publishing the creative work of another, trademarks, or certain confidential business information without the permission of the owner.