Law enforcement

Law enforcement organizations are facing a tremendous problem with social media. On one
hand, social media such as Facebook, My Space, and Twitter can be extremely useful for
effective and efficient communication. On the other hand, law enforcement executives are
constantly facing situations in which employee misconduct is occurring through social media.
Police officers are accessing social media from their workstations and patrol cars during their
shifts. Police officers are posting information that is unbecoming for an officer as well as
degrading and disrespectful to the profession. Police unions and police officer organizations such
as the Fraternal Order of Police and the PBA are opposed to departmental policies that infringe
on police officers’ constitutional rights. How do law enforcement organizations regulate the use
of social media? Just about every major law enforcement organization has a Facebook account
associated with the organization’s website. Therefore, should law enforcement organizations
regulate individual officer’s social media activity?