Law Enforcement Policy Center
Considerations Document
I. PURPOSE
Social media provides a potentially valuable means of
assisting law enforcement agencies in meeting community
outreach, problem-solving, investigative, and crime
prevention objectives. Social media can be used to enhance
communication, collaboration, and information exchange;
streamline processes; and foster productivity.
This document is intended to provide agencies with
items for consideration when developing their policies
related to social media, to include its management,
administration, and oversight. This may include the
identication of potential uses that may be explored or
expanded upon as deemed reasonable by designated
personnel. This document is meant to address social media
in general, as advances in technology will occur and new
tools will emerge.
II. POLICY
Agencies should develop a policy statement that guides
both agency and employee personal use of social media.
The goal of this statement should be to briey and concisely
explain the agency’s policy on the use of social media.
Sample: It is the policy of this agency that social media
will be used in a thoughtful, targeted manner to further the
agency’s community outreach and crime prevention goals.
Sample: This agency recognizes and respects the rights
of its employees to participate on social media platforms.
However, employees must ensure that their online content is
consistent with the agency’s standards of conduct.
III. DEFINITIONS
Page: The specic portion of a social media website
where content is displayed. Pages are managed by an
individual or individuals with administrator rights.
Post: Content that an individual shares on a social
media site or the act of publishing content on a site.
Prole: Information that a user provides about an
individual or an agency on a social networking site.
Social Media: A category of Internet-based resources
that integrate user-generated content and user participation.
Social Networks: Online platforms where users can
create proles, share information, and socialize with others
using a range of technologies.
Speech: Expression or communication of thoughts
or opinions in spoken words; in writing; or by expressive
conduct, symbolism, photographs, videotape, or related
forms of communication.
IV. POTENTIAL USES
Social media can be used
1. as an investigative tool when seeking evidence
or information about
missing persons;
wanted persons;
crimes perpetrated online (e.g.,
cyberbullying, cyberstalking); and
photos or videos of a crime posted by a
participant or observer;
2. for community outreach and engagement by
providing crime prevention tips;
offering online-reporting opportunities;
answering questions posted by the
community on social platforms;
sharing crime maps and data;
providing a two-way tool to enhance and
promote community trust building; and
soliciting tips about unsolved crimes (e.g.,
Crimestoppers, text-a-tip);
3. to make time-sensitive notications related to
road closures,
special events,
weather emergencies, and
missing or endangered persons;
4. to inform the media by
becoming the source of information
immediately following a critical incident;
Social Media
Updated: May 2019
IACP Law Enforcement Policy Center • Social Media: Considerations
2
dispelling rumors and correcting
misinformation; and
magnifying the agency’s message and
instructions when media reshares on their
own social media platforms; and
5. as a recruitment mechanism to attract and
interact with persons seeking employment and
volunteer positions.
V. PROCEDURES
A. Agency Use of Social Media
Agencies should begin by developing a strategy and
associated policy for agency use of social media.
Items to consider may include the following:
1. Establishing standard items that should be
included on each social media page, such as
an introductory statement that clearly
species the purpose and scope of the
agency’s presence on the page;
a statement that indicates that the page is
maintained by the agency;
a disclaimer notice that clearly states the
page is not monitored at all times;
information for how the agency should be
contacted in case of an emergency;
a note that states the opinions expressed
by visitors of the page do not necessarily
reect the opinions of the agency;
an indication that any content posted or
submitted for posting is subject to public
disclosure;
a link to the agency’s ofcial website; and
the agency’s contact information.
2. Identifying the target audience(s), such as
youth or potential recruits, and designing the
social media presence accordingly.
3. Cultivating a personality or persona that the
agency will follow when posting on social
networks. This should consider community
expectations, voice and tone, and appropriate
use of humor.
4. Determining who has the authority to approve
social media content and who is responsible
for maintaining the agency’s social media
presence.
5. Ensuring that social media content adheres
to applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
This may apply to information technology and
records management policies; content or ideas
protected by law, such as through copyright,
trademark, and service mark restrictions; and
public records laws.
6. Establishing terms of use that are vetted
by the agency’s legal counsel and clearly
communicated to the public. These terms of
use should address such items as
how comments posted by the public
on agency social media pages will be
monitored; and
if or when public posts will be deleted or
hidden,
1
considering potential free speech
implications.
7. Limiting posts to incidents occurring
within the agency’s jurisdiction to avoid
misinformation or confusion as well as
guidance for coordination with neighboring
agencies when there is crossover. This is
especially true when an ofcer-involved
incident or line-of-duty death occurs.
8. Prohibiting personnel from accessing social
media platforms using agency computers
without authorization. This prohibition may
also extend to use of personally owned devices
to access social media platforms when the
employee is on duty.
9. Developing procedures for personnel who
represent the agency on social networks, such
as
appropriate conduct, to include observing
agency policy on standards of conduct
and conventionally accepted protocols and
proper decorum;
identication as members of the agency;
limitations on posting specic content
without express approval by the
appropriate individual, to include, but not
be limited to,
statements about the guilt or inno-
cence of a suspect or arrestee;
comments concerning pending prose-
cutions;
condential information; and
information related to agency training,
activities, or work-related assign-
ments.
10. Determining whether social media will be used
when conducting background investigations
on job candidates during the hiring process.
11. Providing training to employees who have
access to agency social media platforms.
12. Developing a quality control component to
ensure consistent voice and tone and accuracy
of information.
1
Social media posts should never be deleted except in unique circum-
stances. Agencies should consult with legal advisors regarding restric-
tions on deleting posts.
IACP Law Enforcement Policy Center • Social Media: Considerations
3
B. Personal Use of Social Media
2
While an agency cannot prohibit employees from
engaging in personal use of social media, when
developing policy on personal use, agencies should
consider
1. Employees’ rights to express themselves
as private individuals speaking on matters
of public concern on social networks and
limits on these rights when such speech is
outweighed by the agency’s interests related to
such items that
interfere with the operation of the agency;
interfere with the maintenance of
discipline by supervisors;
impair working relationships of the
agency that are based on loyalty and
condentiality;
obstruct performance of duties; or
amount to abuse of authority.
2. The fact that speech made by employees
pursuant to their ofcial duties is not protected
speech and may form the basis for discipline.
3. Whether limits should be established by
agency policy on what employees may post
on their personal social media pages. These
limitations may be based on safety and
security reasons and may include prohibitions
against
disclosing their employment with the
agency;
displaying agency logos, uniforms, or
similar identifying items;
posting photographs or providing similar
means of personal recognition that may
cause them or other individuals to be
identied as an employee of the agency;
and
posting any form of visual or personal
identication if the employee is or
may reasonably be expected to work in
undercover operations.
2
Agencies should consult with their legal advisors to ensure that any
policies related to personal use of social media are in compliance with
any applicable laws or collective bargaining agreements.
4. Whether employees should be prohibited from
making any statements, speeches, appearances,
and endorsements or publishing materials that
could reasonably be considered to represent
the views or positions of the agency without
express authorization.
5. How posts made on social media platforms
may form the basis for undermining or
impeaching an ofcer’s testimony in criminal
proceedings.
6. Promotion of awareness that employees may
be subject to civil litigation for
publishing or posting false information
that harms the reputation of another
person, group, or organization;
publishing or posting private facts and
personal information about someone
without their permission that have not
been previously revealed to the public,
are not of legitimate public concern, and
would be offensive to a reasonable person;
using someone else’s name, likeness,
or other personal attributes without that
person’s permission for an exploitative
purpose; or
publishing the creative work of another,
trademarks, or certain condential
business information without the
permission of the owner.
7. Guidelines for employees for reporting
violations of the agency’s social media policy.
8. Additional items that may be included, such as
a requirement that the agency’s policy on
standards of conduct must be followed at
all times, even when using social media
for personal reasons;
education regarding privacy settings; and
the agency’s ability to access any
information created, transmitted,
downloaded, exchanged, or discussed in
a public online forum at any time without
prior notice.
IACP Law Enforcement Policy Center • Social Media: Considerations
4
© Copyright 2019. Departments are encouraged to use this documents to establish policies customized to their agency and
jurisdiction. However, copyright is held by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Alexandria, Virginia U.S.A. All rights
reserved under both international and Pan-American copyright conventions. Further dissemination of this material is prohibited
without prior written consent of the copyright holder.
Every effort has been made to ensure that this document incorporates the most current information and contemporary professional
judgment on this issue. Readers outside of the United States should note that, while this document promotes procedures reective of
a democratic society, its legal basis follows United States Supreme Court rulings and other federal laws and statutes.
Law enforcement administrators should be cautioned that each law enforcement agency operates in a unique environment of
court rulings, state laws, local ordinances, regulations, judicial and administrative decisions and collective bargaining agreements
that must be considered, and should therefore consult its legal advisor before implementing any policy.
This document is not intended to be a national standard.
