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Social Media Policy Approved for Hiawatha Police

By Greg Bebermeyer

01/22/2014

(KNZA)---A policy setting guidelines on what Hiawatha police officers can post on social networking sites is now on the books.

The Hiawatha City Commission Tuesday evening on 4-1 vote approved a new social media policy for the police department, with Commissioner Bill Collins casting the lone no vote

Police Chief John Defore presented the policy. He says it's intended to protect the police department and officers from harm as a result of inappropriate postings, and to ensure that officers using social media use appropriate discretion so as to not discredit the police department.

Officers who violate provisions of the policy may be disciplined, up to and including termination.

Defore says the policy mimics the Kansas Highway Patrol’s social media policy. He says the policy has been approved by both the City Attorney and City Administrator.

Defore also presented a revised police pursuit policy to the commission for approval. A few changes were made to the policy originally approved in 2012.
The commission unanimously approved the revised policy.

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