I am sure every police officer, no matter their age, fondly remembers attending their basic law enforcement training academy. Although the length of time varies for this training across the country and over the years, the general purpose remains constant. The training is designed to equip officers with the tools necessary to do their job effectively, stay safe, and to protect those they serve. Of course, this training is usually combined with some type of field training program at their department prior to being cut loose as a police officer. A variety of important subjects are covered during this basic law enforcement training such as firearms, search and seizure, use of force, criminal procedure, investigations, etc. Many of these classes are designed to protect the officer from those who might want to do harm. What about protecting officers from themselves? What about social media? Do the majority of basic law enforcement training academies even mention it? I doubt it, but they should.
The curriculum for basic law enforcement training academies is constantly changing as case law, policing techniques, equipment, and technology changes. The use of social media by law enforcement has spread rapidly across the country. However, I am not suggesting that the basic law enforcement training class include a section designed to teach officers the benefit of police department’s using social media or even how to use social media. Instead, I believe we are failing to protect officers from themselves by not educating them about their personal use of social media and how it can and sometimes does affect their job.
Although no training program can provide specifics about the departmental policies for each of the officers attending the class, the class can provide a framework to discuss typical policies, case law, and use examples from real-life situations where officers have used social media inappropriately and faced consequences as a result. If this education begins in earnest today, maybe the next generation of officers will use better judgment and their careers will be saved and the department’s reputation will remain intact.
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