Comments on: Guarding against stupid cop tricks http://cops2point0.com/2010/01/12/guarding-against-stupid-cop-tricks/ Branding police work via social media Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:05:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Christa Miller http://cops2point0.com/2010/01/12/guarding-against-stupid-cop-tricks/comment-page-1/#comment-1383 Christa Miller Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:19:48 +0000 http://cops2point0.com/?p=543#comment-1383 Jeanette, thanks for the comment. Domino's willingness to open itself up like this is all the more profound considering just months ago, its employees' video made it look terrible. Maybe they figured they had nothing to lose... but it would have been easy for them to get defensive about its whole brand. The example you cite is more along the lines of an organization that knows mistakes have been made -- from hiring/employee public health education all the way down to recipes -- and wants to make changes... according to its customers' needs. Jeanette, thanks for the comment. Domino’s willingness to open itself up like this is all the more profound considering just months ago, its employees’ video made it look terrible. Maybe they figured they had nothing to lose… but it would have been easy for them to get defensive about its whole brand. The example you cite is more along the lines of an organization that knows mistakes have been made — from hiring/employee public health education all the way down to recipes — and wants to make changes… according to its customers’ needs.

]]> By: Jeanette K. http://cops2point0.com/2010/01/12/guarding-against-stupid-cop-tricks/comment-page-1/#comment-1382 Jeanette K. Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:12:07 +0000 http://cops2point0.com/?p=543#comment-1382 I think a lot of administrators fear that type of transparency across all fields. One example of embracing social media marketing transparency was Dominos latest new pizza campaign. They acknowledged that yes, their pizza isn't that good and vowed to make it better. Then they launched a website that hosted a live feed to anyone talking about #newpizza. While people were saying not-so-nice things about the new pizza (and these negative comments showed up on their pizza's homepage!), this transparency and honesty made me respect them more as a corporation who wasn't afraid to face the truth/real criticism. I certainly think this level of transparency can be applied to law enforcement at all levels. It's that tell-us-what-you-really-think attitude that makes social media so appealing. I think a lot of administrators fear that type of transparency across all fields. One example of embracing social media marketing transparency was Dominos latest new pizza campaign. They acknowledged that yes, their pizza isn’t that good and vowed to make it better. Then they launched a website that hosted a live feed to anyone talking about #newpizza.

While people were saying not-so-nice things about the new pizza (and these negative comments showed up on their pizza’s homepage!), this transparency and honesty made me respect them more as a corporation who wasn’t afraid to face the truth/real criticism. I certainly think this level of transparency can be applied to law enforcement at all levels. It’s that tell-us-what-you-really-think attitude that makes social media so appealing.

]]> By: Christa Miller http://cops2point0.com/2010/01/12/guarding-against-stupid-cop-tricks/comment-page-1/#comment-1371 Christa Miller Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:35:35 +0000 http://cops2point0.com/?p=543#comment-1371 Thanks Laura! Actually we don't disagree -- that "laundry list" statement was a (probably not quite clear enough) continuation of the previous paragraph, that restrictive policies are not the thing to do here. As far as confidentiality policies though, even that is a gray area. At least two cop bloggers I know of have had their blogs "found out" even though they blogged anonymously... they would write about things only they could have experienced. In one case, the officer was threatened with firing. In the other, administration looked the other way. The first officer's agency has a lot of problems. He blogged about those. And it didn't read like the rantings of a cop with a bad attitude. It was no surprise they wanted to control his message. The second officer, though, blogs very positively. He doesn't pull punches about reality, but he doesn't paint his police department in a bad light either. So admin let it go. When people talk about "citizen journalism"... his is one of the best examples. (I'm talking about the Roanoke Cop, BTW.) Also, I don't blame agencies for not wanting to pay anyone to "teach SM." That's not the right goal here. SM presents new channels, and there are boatloads of new implications, the biggest one being that things don't "blow over" as quickly as they did with traditional media. But I think they can be managed once officers and administrators know the right kinds of content to put out there. Finally, your work will ALWAYS be credited here! Trade journalist here -- I would NEVER not properly credit! Bad writer karma... :) Thanks Laura! Actually we don’t disagree — that “laundry list” statement was a (probably not quite clear enough) continuation of the previous paragraph, that restrictive policies are not the thing to do here.

As far as confidentiality policies though, even that is a gray area. At least two cop bloggers I know of have had their blogs “found out” even though they blogged anonymously… they would write about things only they could have experienced. In one case, the officer was threatened with firing. In the other, administration looked the other way.

The first officer’s agency has a lot of problems. He blogged about those. And it didn’t read like the rantings of a cop with a bad attitude. It was no surprise they wanted to control his message. The second officer, though, blogs very positively. He doesn’t pull punches about reality, but he doesn’t paint his police department in a bad light either. So admin let it go. When people talk about “citizen journalism”… his is one of the best examples. (I’m talking about the Roanoke Cop, BTW.)

Also, I don’t blame agencies for not wanting to pay anyone to “teach SM.” That’s not the right goal here. SM presents new channels, and there are boatloads of new implications, the biggest one being that things don’t “blow over” as quickly as they did with traditional media. But I think they can be managed once officers and administrators know the right kinds of content to put out there.

Finally, your work will ALWAYS be credited here! Trade journalist here — I would NEVER not properly credit! Bad writer karma… :)

]]> By: Laura Madison http://cops2point0.com/2010/01/12/guarding-against-stupid-cop-tricks/comment-page-1/#comment-1370 Laura Madison Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:53:58 +0000 http://cops2point0.com/?p=543#comment-1370 "The key is to show them how they can be human and still be professional" True and true but if agencies offer SM training are they not invested and perhaps modifying the personal content? --------------------- "Social media use does not lend itself to a laundry list of “don’ts.” That’s because it’s inherently out of organizational control" I have to disagree here, Christa. There are indeed "don'ts" in my view. The organization should have no control or oversight but that's ONLY if the officer in question does not tweet or post about "on duty" arrests/events etc..quite sure most agencies have confidentiality policies that prohibit some discussion on sensitive matters in a public forum, which the virtual environment most certainly is. If not they need to develop them (part of the reason i have been monitoring SM is to look at this ever changing landscape) I think that was my earlier point. Agencies must adopt policy around SM first- then perhaps training from within. Within this cash strapped econ. my doubts are high that agencies will pay anyone to "teach them" SM. Presentations around how SM can save money, relative to solving via community, any outstanding criminal events--well then now you're talking. I have that presentation ready to go with my own research to accompany it. I will be publishing some things on a blog but am just finishing another study right now. If you want i notify you and can share so long as my work is credited :) “The key is to show them how they can be human and still be professional”

True and true but if agencies offer SM training are they not invested and perhaps modifying the personal content?
———————

“Social media use does not lend itself to a laundry list of “don’ts.” That’s because it’s inherently out of organizational control”

I have to disagree here, Christa. There are indeed “don’ts” in my view. The organization should have no control or oversight but that’s ONLY if the officer in question does not tweet or post about “on duty” arrests/events etc..quite sure most agencies have confidentiality policies that prohibit some discussion on sensitive matters in a public forum, which the virtual environment most certainly is. If not they need to develop them (part of the reason i have been monitoring SM is to look at this ever changing landscape) I think that was my earlier point. Agencies must adopt policy around SM first- then perhaps training from within. Within this cash strapped econ. my doubts are high that agencies will pay anyone to “teach them” SM. Presentations around how SM can save money, relative to solving via community, any outstanding criminal events–well then now you’re talking. I have that presentation ready to go with my own research to accompany it. I will be publishing some things on a blog but am just finishing another study right now. If you want i notify you and can share so long as my work is credited :)

]]> By: Laura Madison http://cops2point0.com/2010/01/12/guarding-against-stupid-cop-tricks/comment-page-1/#comment-1369 Laura Madison Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:38:56 +0000 http://cops2point0.com/?p=543#comment-1369 Christa, you are doing a great job! Keep it up and stay positive :) Christa, you are doing a great job! Keep it up and stay positive :)

]]> By: Laura Madison http://cops2point0.com/2010/01/12/guarding-against-stupid-cop-tricks/comment-page-1/#comment-1368 Laura Madison Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:37:56 +0000 http://cops2point0.com/?p=543#comment-1368 You do not have to be a police officer to offer exceptional training or academic/theoretical concepts/ideas/studies to police agencies. In fact police sciences and studies therein is often from an outside source, like a forensic psychologist or Criminologist, like myself. Being an agency or an officer does not make you a "police expert" but if you are progressive enough to seek information outside your agency you might find value in costing analysis, policy, training and organizational restructuring that assist you to be an exceptional "go to" agency that other agencies view as leaders in the field. Live by example and work hard to be progressive and not closed to change and opportunity. Police are traditionally a closed environment - that's changing in many ways including a fledgling but hopefully positive online presence. Just my two cents :) You do not have to be a police officer to offer exceptional training or academic/theoretical concepts/ideas/studies to police agencies. In fact police sciences and studies therein is often from an outside source, like a forensic psychologist or Criminologist, like myself. Being an agency or an officer does not make you a “police expert” but if you are progressive enough to seek information outside your agency you might find value in costing analysis, policy, training and organizational restructuring that assist you to be an exceptional “go to” agency that other agencies view as leaders in the field. Live by example and work hard to be progressive and not closed to change and opportunity. Police are traditionally a closed environment – that’s changing in many ways including a fledgling but hopefully positive online presence. Just my two cents :)

]]> By: Christa Miller http://cops2point0.com/2010/01/12/guarding-against-stupid-cop-tricks/comment-page-1/#comment-1365 Christa Miller Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:29:46 +0000 http://cops2point0.com/?p=543#comment-1365 To answer your first question, police using Web 2.0 = Cops 2.0. To answer your second, no I'm not. But I work with many. Please feel free to poke around the site to learn more! To answer your first question, police using Web 2.0 = Cops 2.0. To answer your second, no I’m not. But I work with many. Please feel free to poke around the site to learn more!

]]> By: Social Media Training http://cops2point0.com/2010/01/12/guarding-against-stupid-cop-tricks/comment-page-1/#comment-1364 Social Media Training Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:06:47 +0000 http://cops2point0.com/?p=543#comment-1364 Cops 2.0 !!? Funny , Is it some new version of the cops, like Web 2.0, Web 3.0 etc? Are you a cop, actually? Cops 2.0 !!? Funny , Is it some new version of the cops, like Web 2.0, Web 3.0 etc? Are you a cop, actually?

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