It shall be the mission of the Village to ensure its employees
maintain professional conduct in their on- and off-work lives. This
shall include the image an employee portrays of themselves on the
internet and computer-related media.
The purpose of this policy is to outline the expectations of
employees with respect to their use of social media and social networking
and the direct effect such use has upon the reputation and perception
of the Village.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
Employees shall not use any form of social media or social networking,
including but not limited to: Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn,
Tumblr, YouTube, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram, Foursquare, The Squad
Room, usenet groups, online forums, message boards or bulletin boards,
blogs, and other similarly developed formats, in any way so as to
tarnish the Village's reputation. Employees of the Village are embodiments
of our mission. It is vital that each employee accept their role as
ambassadors of the department, striving to maintain public trust and
confidence, in not only their professional actions but also in their
personal and online actions. Any online activity that has the effect
of diminishing the public's trust and/or confidence in the Village
will hinder the efforts of the Village to fulfill its mission. Any
online actions taken that detract from the mission of the Village,
or reflect negatively on the position of the Village will be viewed
as a direct violation of this policy. For police officers: By virtue
of the position of peace officer, they are held to a higher standard
than general members of the public and their online activities should
reflect such professional expectations and standards.
A.
Employees are prohibited from using Village computers or cell phones/devices
for any unauthorized purpose, including participating in social media
or social networking.
B.
Employees are prohibited from using any social media or social networking
platform while at work. Police officers may seek permission from the
Mayor to use social media or networking for investigative or for public
information purposes.
C.
Unless granted explicit permission, employees, including police officers,
of the Village are prohibited from posting any of the following in
any social networking platform, either on their own sites, the sites
of others known to them, the sites of others unknown to them, news
media pages, or other information exchange forums:
(1)
Any text, photograph, audio, video, or any other multimedia file
related to any investigation of the Police Department, both current
and past.
(2)
Any text, photograph, audio, video, or any other multimedia file
related to any past or current action of the Village Police Department,
either in homage or critique.
(3)
Any text, photograph, audio, video, or any other multimedia file
that is related to any Village department business or event.
D.
Employees who choose to maintain or participate in social media or
social networking platforms while off work shall conduct themselves
professionally and in such a manner that will not reflect negatively
upon the Village or its mission. In the course of operating or participating
in such venues, the following rules shall apply:
(1)
Employees will be held responsible for the content that appears on
their maintained social media or social networking sites and will
be obligated to remove any posting or material contributed by others
that reflects negatively upon the Village.
(2)
Sexually graphic or explicit material, of any kind, shall not be
posted by the employee on any form of social media or social networking
sites.
(3)
Sexually graphic or explicit material posted by others to the employee's
social media or social networking sites shall be immediately removed.
(4)
Weaponry owned by the Village shall not be displayed or referenced
to in any multimedia format, on social media or social networking
sites.
(5)
Weaponry privately owned by any police officer shall not be displayed
or referenced to in any multimedia format, on social media or social
networking sites if such displays or depictions promote a disparaging
image of the Village.
(6)
Any text, photograph, audio, video, or any other multimedia file
included on a social media or social networking site that infers,
implies, states, opines or otherwise expresses the employee's views
on the public shall not be detrimental to the Village's mission nor
shall it, in any way, undermine the public's trust or confidence in
the Village departments.
(7)
Any text, photograph, audio, video, or any other multimedia file
included on a social media or social networking site that infers,
implies, states, opines or otherwise expresses the employee's views
on the legal, judicial or criminal systems shall not, in any way,
undermine the public's trust and confidence in the Village departments.
(8)
Any posting that detracts from the Village department's mission will
be considered a direct violation of this policy.
E.
Employees who are brought under administrative or internal investigation
related to their performance, functionality or duties may be ordered
to provide the Village, or its designated investigator, with access
to the social media and social networking platforms in which they
participate or which they maintain.
F.
Employees who are brought under administrative or internal investigation
related to the Village's operation, productivity, efficiency, morale
or reputation may be ordered to provide the Village, or its designated
investigator, with access to the social media and social networking
platforms in which they participate or which they maintain.
G.
If requested, any employee shall complete an affidavit attesting
to all the social media and social networking platforms in which they
participate or which they maintain.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
H.
Any candidate seeking employment with the Village shall complete
an affidavit attesting to all the social media and social networking
platforms in which they participate or which they maintain.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
