Be a role model and accountable. Are you willing to accept responsibility.
1. All departments communicate ethics through required training at the academy.
2. Read quarterly newsletters about unethical behavior. It provides a summary of unethical conduct and the violations of conduct. It provides information in an informative way.
3. Attend the required annual ethics trainer refresher course at your organization.
4. Visit the intranet web page on ethics at your organization to answer any questions.
5. In doubt ask the Division Counsel questions about any ethical dilemmas.
6. Fill out appropriate financial and conflict of interest forms as required by your organization.
7. Take the social media quiz and reflect on the answers.
8. Frequently asked questions about communicating on social media, view the IACP web page for more information. http://www.iacpsocialmedia.org/
9. Visit this web site often.
2. Read quarterly newsletters about unethical behavior. It provides a summary of unethical conduct and the violations of conduct. It provides information in an informative way.
3. Attend the required annual ethics trainer refresher course at your organization.
4. Visit the intranet web page on ethics at your organization to answer any questions.
5. In doubt ask the Division Counsel questions about any ethical dilemmas.
6. Fill out appropriate financial and conflict of interest forms as required by your organization.
7. Take the social media quiz and reflect on the answers.
8. Frequently asked questions about communicating on social media, view the IACP web page for more information. http://www.iacpsocialmedia.org/
9. Visit this web site often.
Quiz discussion: Communicating on Social Media
1. Is it appropriate to post about an investigation that you are working on?
It is not appropriate and wrong to talk about an investigation on social media. Law enforcement is not supposed to divulge any information about an investigation. In fact, you can get fired. It would definitely be brought in front of an ethics committee/ internal affairs.
2. Can you post on Facebook that you work for xyz department?
Yes, it is ok to post your business on social media because it is the same as handing out a business card. However, you need to consider the consequences. For example, if you need to consider if it could jeopardize your current position or one in the years ahead. Another consideration, will you and or your family be more vulnerable to the public.
3. Can you post a picture of you and the President of the United States on Facebook?
D) None of the above. For several reasons it is not appropriate to post your picture with the President. For federal law enforcement, it is considered partisan political activity, and therefore it is not permitted for you to post a picture of you and the President on Facebook. Secondly, as mentioned above, you need to consider the consequences and whether or not it may jeopardize your position. Posting photos, may make you and your family more vulnerable to the public.
4) Can you post the whereabouts of a DUI checkpoint on a holiday weekend to your friends on Facebook?
B) No, it violates the police department's code of ethics. You are not supposed to divulge any information about upcoming arrests or other information like checkpoints. You definitely would be investigated by the ethics committee / internal affairs.
5. Some scantily-clad women dressed ask if you will pose for a photo with them leaning on your police cruiser.
B) No, I need to consider the consequences of social media. When you take a photo with individuals, you are no longer in control of what they may do with the photo. They may post the picture on Facebook or another social media outlets. This could potentially harm the reputation of the organization and yourself. It is always important to think of the consequences. As law enforcement officer we are role models and always need to communicate a positive image to the public. Yes, this also would be brought in front of the ethics committee.
It is not appropriate and wrong to talk about an investigation on social media. Law enforcement is not supposed to divulge any information about an investigation. In fact, you can get fired. It would definitely be brought in front of an ethics committee/ internal affairs.
2. Can you post on Facebook that you work for xyz department?
Yes, it is ok to post your business on social media because it is the same as handing out a business card. However, you need to consider the consequences. For example, if you need to consider if it could jeopardize your current position or one in the years ahead. Another consideration, will you and or your family be more vulnerable to the public.
3. Can you post a picture of you and the President of the United States on Facebook?
D) None of the above. For several reasons it is not appropriate to post your picture with the President. For federal law enforcement, it is considered partisan political activity, and therefore it is not permitted for you to post a picture of you and the President on Facebook. Secondly, as mentioned above, you need to consider the consequences and whether or not it may jeopardize your position. Posting photos, may make you and your family more vulnerable to the public.
4) Can you post the whereabouts of a DUI checkpoint on a holiday weekend to your friends on Facebook?
B) No, it violates the police department's code of ethics. You are not supposed to divulge any information about upcoming arrests or other information like checkpoints. You definitely would be investigated by the ethics committee / internal affairs.
5. Some scantily-clad women dressed ask if you will pose for a photo with them leaning on your police cruiser.
B) No, I need to consider the consequences of social media. When you take a photo with individuals, you are no longer in control of what they may do with the photo. They may post the picture on Facebook or another social media outlets. This could potentially harm the reputation of the organization and yourself. It is always important to think of the consequences. As law enforcement officer we are role models and always need to communicate a positive image to the public. Yes, this also would be brought in front of the ethics committee.