What's your purpose in putting your words online?
My last post discussed the need to differentiate personal from professional personas online. In a reply to commenter Mike Vallez later, I realized that a number of officers we know fairly well already do this:
- Sgt. Tim Burrows (official: @TrafficServices; unofficial: @104kdrive)
- Tom Le Veque (official: @APOAVoice; unofficial: @TRLeveque)
- Meleah Droll (official: @CoralvillePD; unofficial: @Mia_Ria)
- Scott White (official: @PortsmouthPD; unofficial: @SDWhite)
(Who have I forgotten? Please forgive me, and let me know!)
Is it that simple?
I want to say that holding two separate accounts (whether on Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc.) is enough. But the best social networkers lend a personal feel to their professional activities. Most law enforcement “official” accounts are bland, lacking personality. Sometimes this can be chalked up to lack of time and/or resources, especially compared to other duties that are perceived to reach a wider audience.
But other times it’s the result of fear. As I noted in my last post, some people not only prefer but seem to need “totally official.” So an officer personalizing an otherwise official account is, again, perceived to take a certain degree of risk.
Still, personalizing an official account, as the four officers I mentioned above do well, is not quite as risky as “officializing” a personal account. So what’s the answer? Two separate accounts, or something different?
It comes back to purpose
Twitter used to ask, “What are you doing?” When it comes to social networking, the first question anyone should answer is “What are you doing here?”
Chris Mouser talked to me about the difficulty he had with public expectations of him both on- and offline. Ultimately, any cop coming online will face the same. Some expectations can be overcome (such as the idea that you will not respond quickly and courteously—even friendly—online). Others cannot.
The only way to separate one from the other is to set boundaries—which means knowing what you intend to do with the tools once you’ve signed up. Whom are you trying to reach? Where are they located? What do you want to talk about? Why do you want to talk about it?
Revisit these questions every once in awhile as you get more familiar with the tools. (By the way, as the Roanoke Cop brought up in comments on the last post, different tools are for different things, which should be taken into account.)
Incidentally, it’s doubtful Scott, Tim, Meleah, and Tom would have separated their accounts unless they had used Twitter long enough to know that they wanted to tweet other items without muddying their “brands,” the things people had come to expect from @SDWhite, @TrafficServices, @Mia_Ria, and @104kdrive.
The unofficial but professional presence
Finally, for those uncertain about maintaining multiple “personalities,” it is possible to work professionally without doing so officially. Tina Robinette, a South Carolina state fire marshal who tweets numerous safety tips and news items as @TinaFightsFire, manages very well. Here and there are a few personal tweets, but by and large, she remains professional.
Is this necessary for every law enforcement officer? I think that depends on comfort level. Just as in real life, some officers will prefer not to put themselves “out there,” while others will have no problem doing so. And again, some tools like blogs will lend themselves more easily to boundary-setting than others.
What do you plan to accomplish in the various online spaces you occupy?
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Founder Christa M. Miller is a content creator and strategist (i.e. a writer who helps you figure out the best ways to use her writing) who specializes in law enforcement and digital forensics.
Great information Christa, as always!
While I can’t speak for everyone, the two identities were necessary to keep with the “brand” idea. @trafficservices is purely traffic safety and information, with some of my own personality in it. But, I couldn’t talk freely about other topics and keep the purity of the traffic message.
The @104kdrive allows me to talk about LE in SM and other points of interest without diluting the other the traffic safety message.
You hit it right on the head – set boundaries.
Thanks again for all the help you are providing to LE with your work!
Thanks Tim! Actually I’m really glad you chose to split your “selves”
Scott and Meleah had done it the other way — they started out tweeting personally, then developed official accounts. I’m sure they knew their followers wouldn’t want to see PD info interspersed with personal talk, not to mention, personal brands tweeting PD stuff don’t have as much credibility.
So for you to start “official” and end up personal/professional shows how an evolving understanding of these tools helps you to develop boundaries, and, I’d argue, vice versa.
By the way, I focused on Twitter in this post, but thought it was interesting that Roanoke Cop came at it from a blogger’s point of view. I am actually working with my own husband on developing three separate blogs for his widely differing interests in baseball, movies, and politics. I think this isn’t strictly necessary for a PD, where a police chief (for instance) might blog about all the different units — but it sure would be interesting to see individual unit blogs, I think!
You put to print some of my recent thoughts Christa…I am still trying to define where to go with my personal twitter account. My comfort zone has really not been defined for me yet. I ask myself just how much and what exactly to share or talk about with everyone. The whole idea of the personal account grew from many discussions over legitimacy, reputation and building confidence in those who do follow you. And like many have said before, much of that happens when you can put a face or name to a twitter tag or blog name.
For the most part, I too come at this from the blog perspective. The APOA Twitter was started primarily to benefit the blog. In a short time though, it has led to other use and conversations. The professional or official stuff is easy…talk about work and as both you and Tim say, stay within the boundaries that you or your employer have set. It is the personal side that seems more difficult!
APOA Voice´s last blog ..Tuesday Tip – Awareness and Avoidance
Tom, I have found my comfort zone evolving along with my social media use. I don’t think there is any way to “set it and forget it.” This is a dynamic environment — we all change as humans, and our interactions change too, even online — I think it’s harder to see how, when “the Internet” is a constant in our lives even if people are not.
I know when I first started, it was easier to talk about my kids… now I don’t so much. I don’t friend “just anyone” on Facebook even if they are mutual friends of friends, and there have been a number of times when I’ve deleted a tweet or a status update because it was too personal or too “outside” what I have been trying to build. And even within that… I sometimes wonder whether I should focus more on PR, or if I did, would it alienate my core group of followers?
Maybe time to reevaluate my own goals for this space?
First off, “officially” I a AM retired detective
Retired in 2007 after close to 30 years, last 23 as detective. But as we all know, there is no such thing as being retired, especially if you have been in law enforcement for a lengthy period of time.
When I started ‘playing’ on the Internet back in the day, I saw that this was a powerful communication medium, both for work and personal use. For work, it was a great resource for research and an excellent investigative tool, especially for UC ops. For recreation, it was another way of creating and maintaining contacts made , professional & personal, on & offline.
For me, how I ‘behave’ online mirrors how I ‘behave’ offline – I try to be both professional and personal. It is challenging, because in certain situations, there needs to be a distinction when to be professional and when to be personal. I felt it was easier for me to perform this balancing act offline than online.
But I agree that before anyone, not only police officers, use social networking for whatever purpose, decide why and/or what you plan to achieve by using online social networking AND is this the medium that best answer those questions.
As for having separate accounts, I follow the mantra of “not keeping all my eggs in one basket”. I have accounts for certain audiences and topics. There are times that they overlap, sometimes intentionally and sometimes by accident. And there are some accounts that I consciously work at keeping separated.
When I was a rookie Vice cop, my sergeant used tell me not to bring the work home.
It was not so much going home thinking about work, but more along the lines of bringing your ‘associations’ into your family circle. You’re not going to bring your CI to Thanksgiving, unless he/she is already a family member! This type of reasoning sort of explains the necessity (IMO) for officers that are using or planning to use online social networking, whether for work or for personal use.
Jest remember that you’re using only 2 of your 5 senses when you’re online.
So, you got to rely on your 6th sense – you gut feeling.
Be Safe & Happy Holidays!
I am just learning the in”s and out of social media, and it really helps reading others input and experiences already learned. It does seem over whelming, but my thoughts and focus have been “boundarized”!
Chris, thanks for those detailed notes on your different accounts and how you manage them. I think you are the king of multiple online personalities!
I love your point about 6th sense too. One can argue that it is merely a matter of all different physical inputs, but I’ve had situations online that were similar only at face value — in terms of intuition, some felt very wrong, while others felt perfectly fine. Do you think being in tune with that 6th sense on the street translates easily enough to online?
Wendy, thanks for stopping by! I agree on the overwhelm — I have experienced it too — but you’ve got such great examples in both Tim Burrows and Scott Mills. (I don’t know Scott quite as well; I do like how Tim has added things on bit by bit, as he identified needs and got to know each tool.) Any time you want to write about your own experiences, let me know?
Aloha Christa, I think that “6th sense” is the synergistic effect of using all five senses and then factoring in past experiences. That’s why the more experiences you have, both good and bad, will hone your decision making and gut feeling. I am sure that “working the streets” my entire career greatly limited my chances for promotion, but the “personal contacts” I made and life experiences encountered had a greater impact in my personal development, professionally and privately.
As for being in tune with one’s 6th sense and translating it online, I think it’s an individual thing. I know some great cops with great ’street sense’, but put them at the console, and they freeze up. It has nothing to do with being a whiz bang at the keyboard, but being ‘comfortable’ and realizing the impact of using the technology.
I don’t mean knowing how to write programs nor doing computer forensix!
You don’t really have to know how it works, but jest be conscious of the results may be.
For example, realizing what you post can be misinterpreted because certain words mean certain things to certain people. Or realize that once you post you can never retrieve it back. And that nothing is ‘private’ on the Internet. And so forth.
The more you know, the more comfortable you get. But do not get complacent or over confident. That’s when you’ll get in trouble. And when you need to make some decisions, get as much facts and weigh your options. And if you are still undecided, then go with your gut feeling.
Also remember, that gut feeling is jest as important when we’re posting unto the Internet as when we’re trying to digest what is being presented to us.
If it don’t feel right – walk away from the keyboard.
Christa.. you write about great issues. This issue of personal/professional is one that comes up daily in my life… I am a Toronto cop… who works in the community Crime Stoppers program as the youth officer (so.. in reality have 2 bosses.. community Crime Stoppers board and Toronto Police) … I deal a lot with graffiti artists..in a positive light… as Legal Graffiti Art Coordinator for Toronto Police, and am involved in gang prevention, intervention and enforcement..with the Ontario Gang Investigators Association (ONGIA) …. then add in BMX bikes for kids with TorontoBMX … and a live music interest that comes out in behind the scenes work for the Bronte BIA in Oakville, Canada … so… the question becomes… personal, professional, volunteer ?? .. branding? .. community building? … or just be me…. the reality is ‘me’ gets confusing for those who think in terms of ‘branding’ … but makes a lot of sense in terms of one who thinks in terms of ‘community building’ .. then you get the fear factor of others in both the personal and professional lives… … ‘Oh my God.. u r a cop… who deals with murders and gangs… don’t post that photo you just took of your kids on your Facebook’ … then there is the Police Service Board .. who really want the police officers to be a part of the community …. their families included… what does all this lead to ?? a lot of CONFUSION! … so my idea of one account … (which I still believe in) doesn’t work in the real world… so the reality becomes the following…..
Twitter.com/1800222tips
Twitter.com/ONGIA
Twitter.com/TorontoBMX
Twitter.com/CSIWorld
Twitter.com/GraffitiArtCop
YouTube.com/1800222tips
YouTube.com/222TIPSCommunity
YouTube.com/TorontoBMX
YouTube.com/LegalGraffitiArt
YouTube.com/NoToGangsONGIA
YouTube.com/BronteBIAOakville
Facebook.com/ScotMills
Facebook.com/1800222tips
Facebook.com/CSIWorld
Facebook.com/NoToGangs
Facebook.com/TorontoPolice
Facebook.com/BronteEvents
Vibe.To/222TIPS
So… why do it??? ….. take some time to view the comments on the videos and the pages above… there is a lot of education that needs to occur.. a lot of people have misunderstandings about cops and community … …. communication and education can prevent so much violence…. celebrating the good … can prevent the bad… SM for LE is the essential tool in the modern world to provide some of this education … Cops see so much …. so much good … and so much tragedy …. … the ‘thin blue line’ must extend online… Plain and simple… we have to keep the perspective on the ‘good’ … and celebrate it…. and endeavor to correct the ‘bad’ ..
Thnx Christa for being interested in the issues that matter… I hope this ‘rant’ sheds some perspective for others who are grappling with similar issues…. Keep up the good work…. The World needs more of @christammiller .
Scott Mills´s last blog ..Presentation Posted
Scott! Thanks so much for the comment. Just reading that confused me! LOL I think though what it boils down to is the increasing need for more LEOs to take the plunge. That’s a lot for you to be doing all by yourself, and while at first glance you seem to be solidly still “you” — so your “brand” has not been diluted — you could easily become overextended. Also, other cops who are not as certain of their place online could easily dilute their own brands. Strategy ultimately being the key here! It sounds like you yourself have a strategy… but others you work with are still working out theirs? Do you see being able to “outsource” at least some of your online work in the not too distant future, or do you plan to maintain what you are doing?
Christa… thnx for reading and posting back… the goal is to ‘outsource’ some of the online work – empower others to use this strategy .. to engage as many LE officers as possible to use SM as a part of their every day assignments where possible (there are some assignments that are not appropriate for use of SM or obvious reasons) — the more officers using SM, then the more reach that the ’serve and protect’ message gets … I would like to maintain the youth outreach on the BMX and Graffiti themes… … and get others to do the appeals for information … and of course… follow their success.. and utilize my current ‘fan base’ to engage their messages… The real power of the use of SM for LE is being able to reach a huge fan base through the online contacts of many officers very quickly… for missing persons, traffic issues, major incidents such as evacuations etc… In order for this to work at maximum capacity.. policies need to be in place to encourage the use of popular social media tools that foster a following of law enforcement activities… “Relationships and Technology” is the best way to describe this.. the spin off effect is that you are alerted to incidents of concern like minor school yard bullying, fantasy or at risk stage gang activity, school shootings and a possible terrorist attack BEFORE the incident. I can’t begin to tell you how much information comes my way from my contacts on social media…. Many crime victims feel included and informed during the investigative process due to the the SM connection …. Police everywhere need to use SM in a widespread way to PREVENT and solve crime…
See comments of the Secretary General of Interpol – Mr. Ronald Noble … made in Nov/08 in Johannesburg, South Africa .. in this media advisory from the Interpol website..
http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/PressReleases/PR2008/PR200866.asp
Anyone who needs some practical assistance with all of this.. feel free to contact me at scotmills@gmail.com
Scott Mills´s last blog ..Presentation Posted
You packed a lot of ideas in there, Scott, ones that ultimately come back to the original points in the post. First there’s the concept of being able to reach a “huge fan base… very quickly” and then there’s “relationships and technology.” The first idea appears to imply “broadcasting,” but the second shows the clear need for trust — police need to be able to trust their followers with information, and likewise followers need to trust police to know what to do with the tips they provide.
Which comes back to official vs. personal and professional… people may not need or want to know the whole person behind the uniform, but they DO need a clearer picture of who that person is, why they’re doing what they’re doing, why and how they can be trusted. Likewise police who need a clearer picture of their followers, their context in their community and why they care about working with police.
So I think there are the practicalities of “scaling,” as you point out… then there are the intangibles, the less practical, more subjective, fuzzier ideas about how to make those connections and build those relationships. I suspect folks like you and Tim “just know” how to do this intuitively… how might you go about helping other cops to figure it out without overthinking it?
Hey Christa… you are right on with your comments… Tim and I have extensive police experience that is a blend of investigative, street, community .. and both have travelled as cops in the world of traditional media.. it is a blend of experience that is unique … but does exist.. our challenge is to get more officers with this experience to have the mandate that we have with social media (we have ’self created’ those mandates to try to demonstrate the value to others.. and it seems to be working… but it is very slow… so.. how do we help others to figure it out ? I think we need to have the following:
1. official Service policy and mandate to utilize social media to prevent and solve crimes
2. 1/2 day ‘Social Media 101 For Law Enforcement’ Course that focus on ‘relationships+technology’
3. Peer mentoring program that works similar to a ‘field training officer’ (FTO) for social media use
One such policy that I was honored to author is included in the Ontario School Resource Officer Training Manual (OSRO) and is posted in the documents section of http://InternetViolencePrevention.com – the entire OSRO Training Manual is available online for law enformcement personnel at http://OPCOnline.ca (the Ontario Police College) website.
Anyone .. LE or community member is welcome to contact me for more info .. or an informal ‘road map’ by e-mail: scotmills@gmail.com
Thnx for your responses Christa.. it helps me keep perspective on all of this to read your comments.
Scott Mills´s last blog ..Presentation Posted
Scott, it’s awesome that you’re getting so much out of this discussion. So am I!
I read the OSRO training manual — thanks for that link! A couple of things stood out to me:
First, “…always strive to have a healthy two way dialogue with the youth about their Internet postings.” A few months ago, the concern was raised here that students’ inappropriate postings could have a negative impact on SROs. But you imply that as long as SROs are actively talking with the students about their photos and words, that is less of an issue, yes?
I noticed too that you show, in your discussion of risk factors for violence, how social networking are not new indicators — simply a different channel for old indicators. At that point, if you want parents and administrators along with students to be true partners, you’d have to educate them on recognizing those risk factors, yes? Not taking them less seriously because “everyone vents” online?
Finally, it’s my understanding that often cops who don’t deal directly with youth, or with anyone who is regularly online, don’t take social media seriously. They view it as “too fluffy” and “not serious police work.” Your document starts to show how it IS serious police work; how else are you working to show police the benefit to them of staying current?
Aloha Christa,
1st off, great input from Scott! I really like what he is doing and it runs parallel with what I’m doing here in Hawaii. I think the one advantage here is that we have an ‘island community’ where everybody pretty much knows everybody. You talk about ’six degrees of separation’, here it is usually about three, or two if you know the right person
That being said, everybody needs to work with each other , especially between different law enforcement agencies. Same goes for ‘our’ relationships with the community, including the criminal elements.
Because of my lengthy and extensive LE experience and “retired” status, I’m in a position not be handcuffed by bureaucratic red tape, politics, and PC.
Anyways, I strongly agree with what Scott and you cited about training and education for the officers AND the admin. In fact, I am currently in the ‘talking phase’ with HPD in planning a conference here in Honolulu with what Scott mentioned in post #14.
I’m hoping to open it not only to Hawaii based LE, but to our mainland brothers & sisters.
I will keep you posted.
Mahalos!
Yes please do keep me posted, Chris! Interesting point about interagency communication; haven’t seen too much of that, but it is one reason why I try to mention names in my blog — so readers have a contact point if they want it — and also why I’m thrilled to see more comments here, because there’s only so far I (a civilian) can take the discussion; the real work can only be done between cops and agencies. Good luck, and thank you!