Brownwood Police Department Social Media Analysis

Social Media can be an effective tool for the law enforcement professional. Unfortunately, officers that misuse social media often find themselves at risk of being disciplined by their department, dealing with liability and litigation issues, and termination. When using social media, department personnel should be mindful that their speech becomes part of the worldwide electronic domain. Therefore, adherence to the department’s code of conduct is required in the personal use of social media. A detective with the Brownwood Police Department discovered how her posts created an ineffective use of the online environment which contributed to a negative outcome. December 18, 2015 the Brown County District Attorney’s Office contacted the chief of police of the Brownwood Police Department in reference to an online post that was created by one of the department’s detectives. The district attorney advised
There are strengths and weaknesses to using social media. “Online communication allows law enforcement professionals to quickly and easily communicate with the public both as an agency and as law enforcement leaders in their official capacities” (LEPS 510 Module 7.1). Social media can also have a negative response, as Jim Dudley mentions, “We’ve run afoul in our agency from people who would post kind of dumb material, sensitive material, material relating to an active investigation, to an active operation” (LEPS 510 Module 7.2). The Brownwood Police Department detective became emotionally involved by reading posts that she did not agree with which clouded her judgement. The detective needed to understand that the law enforcement professional can change the environment or change their response (Fitch, B. 2016). By controlling her response she would need to identify her “hot buttons” and recognize the “types of comments or actions by others that lead us to anger” (p.