-  The Milwaukee Police Department: High Fives and Pedestrian Safety
        - Improving Police-Community Relations in Six U.S. Cities
        - On the Beat over the Holidays: In Conversation with Wayne Vincent
        - The Peacemaker Corps: Promoting Peace, Tolerance, and Conflict Resolution
        -  Private Prisons: Change in Policy and Practice
        -  Social Media: How Police Agencies Are Re-writing the Communications Handbook

Subscribe

 The Beat

 Learning

 Archives

Search Dispatch:Search

### Social Media:  How Police Agencies Are Re-writing the Communications Handbook

*Sgt. Jason Cullum is Public Information Officer for the Evansville (Indiana) Police Department and a 2016 Senior Law Enforcement Fellow, COPS Office*

For many years, law enforcement agencies held tight to their  belief that information is sacred, seldom to be shared with the outside world.  Our inner workings and daily activities were kept close to the vest. That’s how  it was always done, so that’s how it was always to be done.

     Then along came social media and expectations changed. As  social media evolved, people found a way to be more connected with the world  around them. This included staying in contact with friends and family who lived  many miles away. It allowed people to follow their favorite athlete or celebrity’s  daily life.   

It did not take long for proactive agencies to realize  social media could be used to benefit them in their efforts to be engaged in  their communities. We all started with the basics, Facebook and Twitter. Many  other platforms have been created and we have found that each provide us with  the chance to reach different audiences. We found that the millions of people  using these platforms were very interested in what we do, how we do it, and why  we do it. 

     More importantly, we found a way to overcome the issue of  mainstream media being the only source of information. We have always known  that we do a lot of positive things in our communities. We have also always  known that the mainstream media does not devote the same amount of resources to  positive stories as they do negative. 

     Our stories are now in our hands. We can tell them on our  own terms. I really believe an informed public is a supportive public. In the five  years I have served as the PIO for my agency, we have used social media to  share numerous stories that show our officers being generous, kind,  compassionate, brave in the face of danger, funny, and most importantly, human.  The use of social media helps build a support network that stands tall with you  when you need it most. We do not know when that time will come, but it will  come when you least expect it. 

     While there is still information that needs to be withheld  to protect an investigation or to ensure we do not violate someone’s rights,  there are numerous things we can share every day. The use of social media by  police agencies is becoming more commonplace every day. Based on the overwhelming  popularity of the PIO Track at the recent IACP Conference in San Diego, I think  it is safe to say that many agencies are making social media work for them. 

     Social media is a free tool that we can use to strengthen  our community relationships, engage our youth, and tell our own story. If you  are not using social media at all or not using it to its full potential, now is  the time to do so. Your supporters are out there waiting to connect with you.  Don’t leave it up to someone else to tell your story.

Sgt. Jason CullumEvansville, Indiana Police DepartmentSenior Law Enforcement Fellow, COPS Office 

----

**Back to top**

 The Milwaukee Police Department: High Fives and Pedestrian Safety| The National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice: Improving Police-Community Relations in Six U.S. Cities  |  On the Beat over the Holidays: In Conversation with Wayne Vincent  |The Peacemaker Corps: Promoting Peace, Tolerance, and Conflict Resolution  | Private Prisons: Change in Policy and Practice  | Social Media: How Police Agencies Are Re-writing the Communications Handbook 

FOIANo Fear ActOpen GovernmentPlain WritingPrivacy PolicyUSA.govLegal Policies and DisclaimersLanguage Access Plan