Skip to Main Content
menu

SECTION: 219 SOCIAL NETWORKING MEDIA POLICY

More 

SECTION: 219

TITLE:     SOCIAL NETWORKING POLICY/MEDIA        POLICY

EFFECTIVE DATE:  February 15, 2017

                                                       

All Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office personnel must use computers, computer applications, computer programs, Internet resources and network/Internet communications in a responsible, professional, ethical and lawful manner. The conduct of its employees off-duty has a reflection on the department. This policy is intended to guide employees conduct as it relates to their employment or representations of employment through the numerous networking sites while on-duty and off-duty.

 

Social Networking is defined as social network sites that use Internet services to allow individuals to construct a public or semi-public profile within that system, define a list of other users with whom they share some connection, and view and access their list of connections and those made by others with the system. The type of network and its design vary from site to site. Examples of the types of Internet based social networking sites include but not limited too: Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Topix, blogs, photo sharing, video sharing, microblogging, podcasts, as well as comments posted on the sites.

 

GUIDELINES:

 

  1. The Internet is not anonymous, nor does it forget.

Everything written on the Web can be traced back to its author one way or another and very easily. Information is backed up often and repeatedly, and posts in one forum are usually replicated in others through trackbacks and reposts or references.

 

  1. There is no clear line between your work life and your personal life. Always be honest and respectful in both capacities.

With the ease of tracing authors back from their posts and the amount of information online, finding the actual identity of a poster from a few posts and a screen name is not impossible. This creates an avenue for outside parties to link your personal writings to those you've done in a professional capacity. Always write as if everyone knows you. Never anything you wouldn't say out loud to all parties involved.

 

  1. Self-Identification

Employees may identify themselves as representatives of the agency. However, if they do their actions are reflective of the agency's and will conform to the agency's general internet use policy. Self-Identification can include the acknowledgment in the user profile for work experience, job title, etc. by identifying oneself as an employee of the agency. Posting on their or another's social networking sites the identification of their employment. If the employee identifies their employment with the agency they take on the responsibility for representing the agency in a professional manner from that period forward while still employed by the agency. If the employee does self-identify themselves as a member of the agency, the employee will at a minimum post on their social networking sites a disclaimer that makes it clear that the opinions expressed are solely those of the employee and do not represent the views of the agency.

 

GENERAL POLICIES WHEN POSTING ON A SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE:

 

  1. Show proper respect for people's privacy and for topics that maybe

Considered objectionable or inflammatory, like politics, religion, race, and ethnicity.

 

  1. Respect the law, including those laws governing defamation, slander,

discrimination, harassment, and copyright and fair use.

 

  1. DO NOT use the Sheriff's Office logo, unless specifically authorized to

do so.

 

  1. Do not disclose the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office confidential or

other proprietary information, such as current or anticipated products,

software, research, inventions, processes, techniques, designs, or other technical data. Get permission from the Sheriff prior to sharing or publishing their intellectual property. Ask permission to publish or report on meetings or conversations that are meant to be internal to Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office.

 

  1. Do not reference Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office staff, members,

partners, or vendors without their approval.

 

  1. Agency employees need to comply with the general agency Internet use

policy and recognize that all time and effort spent on their personal site should be done on their personal time and should not interfere with their job duties.

 

  1. Do not degrade or discuss other public safety or federal, state, or local

government agencies and/or the agency's employees. If there is an issue with a public safety agency in the work environment this issue should be discussed with the immediate supervisor.

 

  1. USE COMMON SENSE

CONFIDENTIAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE INFORMATION:

 

The employee must take proper care not to purposefully or inadvertently disclose an information that is confidential or law enforcement sensitive. Consult the agency's other policies for guidance about what constitutes "confidential" or "law enforcement sensitive" information. Employees will also honor the privacy rights of the current employees by seeking their permission before writing about or displaying internal agency happenings that might be considered to be a breach of their privacy and confidentiality. Any employee who violates this policy regarding confidentiality can and will be subject to disciplinary action and/or termination.

 

COPYRIGHT

 

Employees at all times must comply with the law in regards to copyright/plagiarism. Posting of someone else's work without permission is not allowed. Other relevant laws that need to be complies with include those related to libel and defamation of character.

 

DISCIPLINARY ACTION:

 

Employees should use common sense in all communications, particularly on a website or social networking site accessible to anyone. What you say or post on your site or what is said or posted on your site by others could potentially be grounds for discipline. If you would not be comfortable with your supervisor, co-workers, the Sheriff reading your words, do not write them. Recognize that you are legally liable for anything you write or present online. Employees can be and will be disciplined by their Supervisor, an/or Sheriff at their discretion which includes, but not limited to verbal reprimand, suspension, and/or termination for commentary, content, or images that are defamatory, pornographic, proprietary, harassing, libelous, or that can create a hostile work environment.

 

No employees should conduct any activity related to ongoing investigations through their personally owned social networking accounts. Employees should refer to their Criminal Investigation Division and/or the Sheriff on agency policy.

 

In regards to: All Rules, Regulations, Policy & Procedures and Special Orders are at the discretion of the Sheriff based on departmental need and the severity of the infraction.