MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — On the heels of a police officer being placed on leave over Facebook posts, one department is considering a social media policy. Rochester Officer Ben Schlag was put on leave last month when anti-Muslim posts appeared on his page. The department does not have a social media policy. The police policy oversight commission will look at making changes, but the city’s top cop doesn’t think it’s needed. “It was against the rules, it is against the rules,” Chief Roger Peterson said. The police policy oversight commission is taking a look at if Rochester Police needs a specific social media policy. “The incident itself has established that there is a need, an opportunity to address these types of realities. A social media policy will bridge that gap I think,” Commissioner Don Barlow said. Peterson said the department’s current code of conduct covers all forms of communication. He added it is stricter than a social media policy the city looked at and decided against. ADVERTISING “It really doesn’t matter what the medium is for communication. You can’t disparage people, you can’t discriminate against people and you can’t bring discredit to the department. Whether that’s on Facebook, Twitter or you’re just hollering it out in the street, it’s still against the rules,” Peterson said.
Source: Rochester Police Department Considers Social Media Policy « WCCO | CBS Minnesota
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