"Social Media: Establishing Criteria for Law Enforcement Use" -Robert D. Stuart ~ My Responce

The article 'Social Media: Establishing Criteria for Law Enforcement Use" by Robert D. Stuart is about how  even police officers use social media just like us. BUT they need to be careful on what they put on line. Stuart says that "missteps in its use can endanger the safety of officers and compromise criminal cases, resulting not only in embarrassment to department but exposure to civil and criminal liability." If a police officer posts up lets say on Facebook with a picture of the crime scene, that can lead to exposure to he public with out permission to do so. Another scenario would be posting up a status saying " I'm feeling so sleepy I need a coffee like right now" the police officers are being watch by the department. So no matter what they put up they need to be careful on what they write for people to see. Stuart mentions a 2011 survey that was conducted by the Institute for criminal Justice Education found that over 78 percent of law enforcement respondents had a social media account and of those, over 38 percent identified themselves on heir profile as policing professionals", it shows how the law enforcement have interest in social medias. Well of course since they are people more likely they would have interests towards it. even tho social media can also be part of heir benefits. They can use social media for public relations, crime prevention, and criminal investigation he claims. That is their way to get the word out to the people. That way people can help inform the police with a more easy access if they have something to tell them about a crime. Something that is recommended to the police enforcement is to not mix up their social lives with their professional ones. It can bring discredit to them and their departments. Criminals can become spy's and spy on private information that publicly was shared by law enforcement officers. While some officers know what to and what not to put on social media about 15 percent of the officers do not. Stuart says "government entities can restrict the speech of their employees under certain circumstances, such as if the expression interferes with or compromises the mission of the department or brings into question the professionalism of the officers of the agency." They have the power to take away or limit what is put on line. Stuart wants the officers to get train to know what is and not okay to expose on line. He wants Law enforcement administrators to establish appropriate controls over  the use of social media to increase its benefits for their departments and reduce incidents of misuse by officers. Stuart does have a point on having the law enforcement to be careful about the information they put on line it can effect them on a helpful way or a negative way..