How would you respond to my peer discussion post withmeaningful / analyticalthoughts (more than that you agree / disagree)

ORIGINAL QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION

Law enforcement agencies must address a significant amount of activities and events in their policies and procedures. For example, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) provides this list[1] of 458 standards that are reviewed during the accreditation process.

While the need for many of these policies have existed for a long time, such as Use of Force, operating motor vehicles, and uniforms and appearance, new issues have developed that require new policies and revisions to old policies.

One of the most significant developments is rise of social media. These applications have become almost a mandatory part of life, both for the agencies and the individual officers.

For this discussion board, find the social media policies of at least two different agencies.

1. Compare the policies on the following issues: -Restrictions on the content of posts. What kind of material are individuals not allowed to post? Is there a difference between what individuals can post on or off duty? -When are individuals permitted to post? -Does the agency permit individuals to post pictures of themselves in uniform, or of police cars and the like? What about identifying themselves as a police officer?
2. Provide your opinion on each of the previous aspects of the policy. Explain which policy you think has the better provisions for each issue, and why.
3. Do you think the provisions of the policies are good? Explain how you reached this answer. How do you think the policy could be improved?

MY PEER'S RESPONSE THAT I NEED HELP RESPONDING WITH:

1. The Baltimore Police Department can post anything on their personal social media about work. They cannot share or commit anything that includes criminal conduct, threats or violate any law. It is Highly recommended that sworn members do not disclose that they are part of the BPD. They can post off duty only and if they do members cannot represent the BPD as spokesperson and anything they say is not an official statement from the BPD.

Frederick Police Department social media policy holds sworn, non-sworn staff and volunteers to the same standard of conduct. Employees are free to express themselves as a private citizen on social media. They can convey anything they want if it does not interfere with cohesion among colleagues, affect duties or adversely affect the department. They are not allowed to speak on any ongoing cases or anything to do with security and officer safety. They can post on or off duty but being mindful of what they say and what they are doing.

2. In my opinion both policies had to be revised due to the ongoing use of social media and the use of its platforms. BPD has the better policy because it restricts employees to just using social media off duty. While FPD allows their employees to post on and off duty. I feel that posting on duty comes with exposing yourself and family to possibilities of retaliation. It can also create a positive outcome in communities by showing how officers assist the community. Social media has become one of the biggest platforms to show exposure of the good, the bad, the pretty and the ugly.

3. I believe the provisions of the policies are beneficial because it restricts some people's recklessness. Also, everything that goes on in the police departments is not meant for the communities to know. Imagine if an officer got on social media and started posting about a sting operation, they had going on to bring down drugs in a community. That would give the suspects time to get away. I believe by having social media classes included in the mandatory training once a year. This could help improve and keep up with the changing of society. Having the employees sign a disclosure agreement after the training can hold them accountable for their actions. This training can show different scenarios of things you can post and cannot post.