Special Order - Social Media 5-17-19 RESCINDEDDate:
To:
From:
Subject:
City of Long Beach
Working Together to Serve
May 17, 2019
WATCH REPORT
Robert G. Luna, Chief of Police R. 'I.�
SPECIAL ORDER � SOCIAL MEDIA
Memorandum
Effective immediately, this special order creates policy as it pertains to use of social
media and amends LBPD Manual Section 3.48 -INTERNET USAGE.
INTERNET USAGE
This policy is created to ensure proper use, access, and disclosure of information
created, transmitted, received, and stored via the internet. The term internet refers
to electronic communication networks including, but not limited to, the world wide
web, the City of Long Beach Intranet, biogs and microblogs, and instant
messaging. All employees shall comply with the following conditions of internet
usage: •The internet shall be used for City related business purposes subject to the
restrictions in this policy;
Occasional and limited personal use is permitted, so long as it does not
interfere with the performance of the employee's duties or result in any
additional expense to the Department. •All internet usage shall be conducted in a professional and courteous manner.•All data, or internet usage, including any that is stored or printed as a
document, is subject to audit and review; there is no expectation of personal
privacy on City of Long Beach computer equipment or networks.•Employees shall safeguard all applicable electronic passwords issued to or
created by them.•Passwords shall not be shared.
INTERNET USAGE -RESTRICTED ACTIVITY
Data that discloses sensitive, personal, confidential, or proprietary information
shall not be sent, provided, or accessed without appropriate supervisory
authorization.
The Internet shall not be used for the following without prior written authorization
from the Chief of Police, or his or her designee: •Commercial activities•Political activities outside an employee's job scope;•Transmit, download, forward, store, or view obscene or pornographic material
of any kind, unless in the course of an investigation and only with supervisoryapproval;In the event obscene or pornographic material is unintentionally accessed
or received, employees shall notify their supervisor; RESCINDED by 3.51 on 7-22-21
SPECIAL ORDER -SOCIAL MEDIA
May 17, 2019
Page2
•Transmit or forward defamatory, unprofessional, threatening, offensive, or
harassing messages of any kind unless, in the course of an investigation and
then only with supervisory approval;•Create or forward chain letter e-mails, unless in the course of an investigation.
SOCIAL MEDIA -PURPOSE
This policy establishes the Department's position on the use of social media sites
when referencing matters related to the City, and the Long Beach Police
Department. This policy is not meant to address one particular form of social
media, rather social media in general, as technology advances and new tools
emerge.
The intent of this policy is to ensure employees use appropriate discretion when posting photographs or speech that does not jeopardize investigations or discredit
the Department. It is not the intent of this policy to prohibit employees from
engaging in conduct that constitutes protected speech under state or federal
constitutions, as well as labor or other applicable laws.
SOCIAL MEDIA -DEFINITIONS
Blog - A self-published diary or commentary on a particular topic that may allow
visitors to post responses, reactions, or comments. The term is short for "Weblog."
Forums -An internet message board which allows users to post messages
regarding one or more topics of discussion.
Medium - A format for communicating or presenting information.
Microblog - A blog featuring very short posts, 140 characters or less, staying
connected in real time, such as Twitter.
Page -The specific portion of a social media website where content is displayed and managed by an individual(s) with administrator rights.
Post -Content shared on a social media site, or the act of publishing content on a site.
Profile -Information that a user provides about themselves on a social networking
site.
Social Media - A category of Internet-based resources that integrate user
generated content and user participation, including but not limited to, social networking sites such as Facebook, lnstagram, Twitter, and YouTube. RESCINDED by 3.51 on 7-22-21
SPECIAL ORDER -SOCIAL MEDIA
May 17, 2019
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Social Network -An online platform which allows users to create profiles, share information, and socialize with others using a range of technologies.
Speech -Expression or communication of thoughts or opinions in spoken words,
writing, expressive conduct, symbolism, photographs, video, or related forms· of
communication.
SOCIAL MEDIA -POLICY
Department members may use social media to communicate with the public about
investigations, public services, or other relevant events. Department members should ensure their use of social media is professional and protects the
constitutional rights of all.
SOCIAL MEDIA -SAFETY
Employees shall not disseminate or post information on social media or networking sites that could compromise the safety of others. Employees shall take necessary
precautions not to disclose confidential information or jeopardize the privacy rights
of others.
SOCIAL MEDIA -ON-DUTY DEPARTMENT APPROVED USAGE AND GUIDELINES
The Department encourages the use of electronic communication technology and
social media networking sites to share and gather information in support of its
organizational mission and for work-related purposes. An employee's access to these sites via the Department computer network may be authorized based on organizational need. When using social media, employees are subject to the
following guidelines:
•Employees who are conducting investigations as part of their normal duty
assignment are authorized to use social networking websites to aid in theirinvestigation.
•If a new account is created for investigative reasons, the account name and
password must be provided to the employee's supervisor.•Employees who use social networking platforms to conduct Departmentbusiness as part of their normal duty assignment, shall use a Departmentsponsored social networking account and not their private personal
account.•The Media Relations Detail has administrative oversight on all Department
sponsored public social media accounts and will track all usemames andpasswords.•All content placed on a City-sponsored social networking platform should
reflect the mission and core values of the organization and conform to allRESCINDED by 3.51 on 7-22-21
SPECIAL ORDER -SOCIAL MEDIA
May 17, 2019
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policies regarding the release of information per LBPD Manual § 6.1.1 -
MEDIA RELATIONS POLICY AND PROCEDURES.
SOCIAL MEDIA -PROHIBITED ACTIVITY AND GUIDELINES
Employees who choose to participate in social media or social networking platforms shall conduct themselves in a manner that will not reflect negatively upon
the Department's operations, or its mission. Employees are prohibited from posting
confidential or sensitive work activities or assignments, employee work schedules,
inmate transportation schedules, or other operationally sensitive information.
Employees shall not post, transmit, reproduce, or disseminate information that which reflects unfavorably upon the Department or its operations.
PRIVACY EXPECTATION
Employees forfeit any expectation of privacy with e-mails, texts, or anything published, or maintained through file-sharing software or any internet site that is
accessed, transmitted, received, or reviewed on any Department-issued computer,
mobile device, or technology system. Employees have no reasonable expectation
of privacy with regards to anything published or maintained on an internet site open
to public view.
The Department reserves the right to access, audit, review, and disclose, for any
reason, all information transmitted over any technology that is issued or maintained
by the Department, including the Department e-mail system, or any information
placed into storage on any Department system or device.
Access to a database, service, or website that requires a usemame or password does not create an expectation of privacy if an employee accesses the database,
service, or website through a Department computer or mobile device. However,
the Department may not require an employee to disclose a personal usemame or
password or open a personal social website, except when access is reasonably
believed to be relevant to the investigation of allegations of work-related
misconduct (Labor Code Sec. 980).
This special order will remain in effect until a manual section has been drafted and
approved for inclusion in the LBPD Manual.
Robert G. Luna, Chief of Police
RGL;SP:SO-soclalmedia RESCINDED by 3.51 on 7-22-21