MC/BC NEWS: Matagorda Deputy, Bay City Officer On Administrative Leave After Social Media Comments Bay City Tribune, 11/26/14: After receiving a complaint regarding comments made using social media, the Bay City Police Department and the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office have both relieved an employee of duty pending an internal investigation. The alleged incident involved a social media post thread regarding the Ferguson verdict that resulted in the complainant being named in a racially provocative rant and an offensive image posted in the feed. The complainant took a screenshot of both incidents before they were deleted off the newsfeed. “The Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of comments allegedly made by a Matagorda County Sheriff’s Deputy using social media,” said Sheriff Skipper Osborne. “The deputy was placed on administrative leave and an internal affairs investigation was immediately initiated “I take all allegations made against any Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office employee seriously and I will ensure that a thorough investigation into this matter is done,” said Osborne. The deputy will remain on administrative leave until the conclusion of the internal affairs investigation. On Tuesday, Nov. 25, the Bay City Police Department received a complaint regarding comments allegedly made by an employee using social media. The Bay City Police Department took immediate action and placed the employee in question on paid administrative leave and launched an internal affairs investigation. Unlike a suspension, administrative leave removes the officer from work while still collecting a paycheck. Administrative leave allows the department to fully investigate claims. When placed on administrative leave, officers are relieved of their police powers, and are on paid leave until an investigation is completed. Administrative leave is reserved for the most serious allegations against a city employee. “This shows the seriousness for which these complaints were taken,” said Police Chief Roger Barker. “All complaints received by the Bay City Police Department are taken seriously and an internal affairs investigation was launched immediately upon receipt of the complaint. “We want to ensure that we have the trust of the public,” said Chief Barker. The purpose of the internal affairs investigation is to determine if any violations of department policy occurred. After the internal investigation, the Chief of Police will review the investigation and its findings. If policy violations by the employee were committed, determinations following that investigation can include termination of employment. The Bay City Police Department’s social media policy states that all employees of the agency are prohibited from making comments that would discredit the department, the city, or themselves. BCPD employees are expected to conduct themselves professionally at all times and that includes when employees engage and interact on social media outlets. This is an excerpt from the comment allegedly posted by a Sheriff’s deputy: “You three actually vote and reproduce, how sad. Your level of ignorance and lack of common sense is deafening. Please find a brick wall and do society a favor and bang your head into repeatedly. I’ll insult you, judge you call you what I want.” The comment was too riddled with profanity to be released in its entirety.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 01:17:35 +0000
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