http://hamptonroads.com/node/603488

Police officers urged to use caution with social media

By Patrick Wilson
The Virginian-Pilot
© June 13, 2011

Following an adrenaline-packed foot pursuit that led to an arrest, a Smithfield police officer went home and posted on his Facebook page about how much fun he had that night.

The post included nothing disparaging. But a town council member who was the officer's Facebook friend saw the post and complained that it was inappropriate, Police Chief Mark Marshall said.

"Needless to say, there was some counseling that was done. That remark, obviously, was taken off, and I believe the council member was unfriended at that point. But nonetheless, that's when we knew we needed to have a policy," Marshall said.

Smithfield police - like other police departments in Hampton Roads - have created policies governing the way officers should use social networks, warning them to exercise caution when posting online to ensure they don't harm the reputation of their department or get themselves in trouble.

[more at link, CoC and all]

Thats why I don't post nothing on facebook/twitter/myspace/etc

If people can complain, they will.

Rather sucks, doesn't it? That we can't express about the way we feel while the rest of the world does?

Of course, some of the things the rest of the world does express on FB makes me cringe at times, such as what my niece will put up, so perhaps there is some balancing across the books. Not much though for what might cost them a job offer may cost us a career.

But that's the way it is in this world. Back during the Bush administration, I belonged to the Sierra Club and they wanted to go down to Padre Island to build sand animals to protest the drilling......and I knew that was just something I could not do. Things like involve press and cameras and I could just see it in a security interview, "Now, Operative Ounce, can you explain this picture?" as they pass it across the table.

As things go, FB wise, I try not to talk much about this area of work for various reasons. Most of my FB friends aren't in it, those who have been probably don't want to talk about it anyhow, those who might want to talk about it could be too radical, and my FB life provides something of a cover. It's not a ghost life for it is quite real and further, it provides an escapism from the research I might do. I'd rather not mar that paradise.

There are things we can do and openly talk about and there are things we just can't.
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("I remember once when I was traveling by train that..........I'm sorry, I was about to talk about a mission."––Anya, KGB
"Odd, isn't it, we're both in the same business and yet we can't talk about it."––007, (w,stte), "The Spy Who Loved Me")