Sheriff’s office implements social networking policy

Problems with public employees taking liberties on Facebook is not the only reason that recently led the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) to recently develop a social networking policy.

Fifty employees with the sheriff’s office just last week attended an 8-hour class to discuss the policy, where they received a purpose, statement, discussion and list of definitions outlining the policy.

Under the new rules:

• a BCSO deputy or employee is not allowed to use agency computers or cell phones to conduct social media activity unless he/she is conducting official sheriff’s office business.

• a BCSO deputy or employee is not allowed to use any social media or networking platform while on duty unless they are granted permission to use it for official business.

• no deputy or employee of the BCSO is allowed to post any material related to or identifying the BCSO on their own sites.

• Deputies or employees of the BCSO who participate in social media should conduct themselves with a professionalism that will not negatively reflect upon the BCSO or Barrow County.

For the full story, see the July 13 issue of the Barrow Journal.