Another Officer Placed On Paid Leave Over Controversial Social Media Posts

All police officers are expected to perform their duties in a professional manner without any favor or partiality for certain individuals or groups being given. Usually, police departments will have their own code of ethics which sets out the acceptable behavior that we'd expect to see from officers while both on and off duty. Setting a standard helps the departments to build or maintain integrity within the community.

It's been said frequently that because these individuals are tasked with enforcing the law that they should be held to a higher standard than the rest of us. You can gain more trust from the community by admitting wrongdoing and talking about what isn't easy, rather than saying everything you did was always by the book and acceptable at all times. When someone acts wrongly, whether their actions bring the department or profession as a whole into disrepute shouldn't matter, the wrongdoing should still be called-out and dealt with reasonably, rather than excused or covered-up. Otherwise, trust begins to deteriorate.

Everyone makes mistakes and we've seen that officers both while on and off duty have engaged in a myriad of reckless behaviors and wrongdoing. Often, they are placed on paid leave as policy until the situation can be investigated and further sorted out. And that's what has recently happened to an officer from Missouri.

In recent years, a number of officers have been dealt with after they've been caught posting controversial things to their social media accounts and now a lieutenant from Columbia is joining the pack.

Recently, the Tribune had posted screenshots from the officer's Twitter account to which the Mayor quickly responded in asserting that the officer's views weren't acceptable and that they didn't reflect the values of the community. The acting police chief has also responded in suggesting that the department would be investigating and handling the issue as a complaint.

This officer has been promoted just last year to lieutenant and since this investigation has taken place, he's reportedly deleted his social media account. The officer has been employed for over a decade, has worked in internal affairs, and spent time investigating allegations of police misconduct.

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The social media posts allegedly contain posts where the officer had shamed a homeless woman, as well as a poor family living in a mobile home, and more.

The department reportedly does have its own social media policy and it clearly prohibits any speech that might compromise or damage the function, reputation, professionalism, or mission, of the department as a whole and its employees. This includes speech uttered that might not be pursuant to any official duty.

If this officer has an issue with certain groups who he is employed to supposedly protect it might then impact his ability to perform his duties in an impartial manner. If he has been making controversial and unbecoming statements in his off-time then the department shouldn't turn a blind eye to that, it should be investigated and dealt with accordingly.

In an effort to rebuild trust with the public overseas in the UK, several years ago they put forth a new code of ethics for their officers that required them to be courteous and respectful to the public that pays their bills. Those who are caught mistreating people would face disciplinary action. It also encouraged officers to report fellow colleagues who violate these guidelines. You don't earn trust by covering-up and defending wrongdoing.

Thankfully, social media has frequently helped to sort out who might not be well suited for the position.

Pics:
pixabay
biteable
Tribune

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