Portland Cops Ordered To Remove ‘I Am Darren Wilson’ Images From Facebook
[su_right_ad]Three Portland, OR officers were ordered to remove “I am Darren Wilson” images from Facebook. by the chief of police.
An “I am Darren Wilson” bracelet is shown wrapped around a Portland Police Bureau badge.
PPB Chief Michael Reese and Mayor Charlie Hales issued statements about the Facebook posts on Monday morning, just hours before a grand jury decision would likely be announced in the case.
“I was alerted to these images this morning and immediately ordered their removal through the officers’ chain of command,” Reese said. “The image displayed does not represent this organization and was very inflammatory in nature. Officers certainly have a right to have and express their opinions but not using an official badge of the Portland Police Bureau.”.
Hales said the city had been working with community leaders to help keep the peace no matter what the grand jury announces. He said the actions of these three officers would not help reach that goal.
“The officers made a political statement by altering the city’s official badges. They were wrong to do so,” the mayor said. “Their actions do a disservice to the hundreds of Portland police officers who are building relationships and partnerships with the community every day.”[su_csky_ad]
Larry Schmitt November 24th, 2014 at 6:39 pm
While I think they are idiots for thinking that way, don’t they have a right to think like idiots? How can the PD control what they put on their own FB pages?
Carla Akins November 24th, 2014 at 6:45 pm
It was because it involved their badges – but still a private conversation explaining the difference between public & private endorsement should have covered it – unless if course they refused.
Larry Schmitt November 24th, 2014 at 6:52 pm
Still, it really bothers me how seriously employers look at social media. Several years ago, it became common practice for HR departments to Google an applicant to see what they would find, and some lost job opportunities. Something seems wrong about that. One more reason I’m glad I don’t put anything personal there.
Carla Akins November 24th, 2014 at 7:26 pm
Agreed. I was written up and almost lost my job last year over aa news article about my employer I posted on my FB page. Not an editorial, not my words, an actual news article. It was ridiculous. The building we were leasing for one of our service centers was being auctioned after the owner went bankrupt. Management knew abut the sale but the employees didn’t. They do however lay out their social media policy in extreme detail in the employee handbook but who the hell reads those things.
whatthe46 November 24th, 2014 at 8:01 pm
i don’t think they need to read the handbook in its entirety to know right from wrong. common sense should apply.
mea_mark November 24th, 2014 at 7:20 pm
They shouldn’t control them. If the departments don’t like what they are doing they should just let the officers go.
whatthe46 November 24th, 2014 at 8:00 pm
i so agree with you. its attitudes like there’s that scare the fk out of me. so disrespectful of the office and community.
R.J. Carter November 24th, 2014 at 8:06 pm
In general, or just in this specific instance because of the stance adopted?
If they had the policy you advocate, and chose to implement against an officer because an officer’s Facebook image was his badge and a bracelet that said “I Am Mike Brown”…?
R.J. Carter November 24th, 2014 at 7:56 pm
I think because it was wrapped around the officlal department badge, which could be construed as speaking for the department. Imagine that someone where you work held that opinion, and their Facebook page had an image of the bracelet draped across their business card featuring the company logo.
R.J. Carter November 24th, 2014 at 7:55 pm
Wear the bracelet all you want, just not in uniform because it’s not part of the uniform.
rg9rts November 25th, 2014 at 7:12 am
I wonder if that was a directive from the FOP