b'SOCIAL MEDIA OFFERS A CLOAK OF ANONYMITY FOR PEOPLEWHO WISH TO SPOUT VITRIOL AND HATE WHILE HIDING BEHIND A USERNAME.YOU CAN ALLOW INFORMATION TO BE SHARED, BUT WHEN IT GETS TO THE POINTWHERE IT HAS NO VALUE, THEN IT SHOULD BE SHUT OFF. SCOTT BLANDFORD, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR,PROGRAM COORDINATOR, POLICING & PUBLIC SAFETY, WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITYmembers of the community, as well as members of yourAccording to a 2016 Law Enforcement Use of Social service? The answer is yes. Media survey by the Urban Institute and the International Fighting Trolls Association of Chiefs of Police1, law enforcement agencies use social media for a wide range of activities. The study Recently, some police services have begun to shut downfound that more than 80 per cent of law enforcement thecommentsectionontheirsocialmediaplatforms.agencies use social media to notify the public of safety They have instead provided other forms of open com- concerns,engagewiththecommunity,managetheir munication(directmessaging,aphonenumberoranagencysreputationornotifypeopleofnon-criminal email option) for anyone wishing to make a comment orissues (e.g., road closures). engage with the service. But,accordingtoastudyentitledPoliceinsocial Scott Blandford, a retired London Police Service policemedia: To protect and share?2, social media can also be officer who is currently an assistant professor teaching ina mixed blessing for the police, since social platforms the Public Safety and Policing programs at Wilfrid Laurierattractcriticismandeveninsult.Thestudypointsto University, believes that this is the exact action policethe example of the New York Police Department (NYPD) services should be taking in order to force those who wishwhen the service asked users to upload images of police to comment to do so in the right waythrough two-way,officers with civilians using the hashtag #myNYPD. The respectful communication. By calling in to speak to you,social media pages were soon filled with photos of officers you are weeding out those people who just want to go onallegedly using excessive force against civilians, resulting to spout hate. It forces them into a two-way conversation,in the exact opposite goal of what they were hoping for. not a one-way conversation, said Blandford. Allowing negative comments to flood your page can, This is not to say that social media does not provideinturn,affecthowthecommunityaswellaspublic value to police services. It does, particularly given the factdecision-makers perceive your content and the policing that it allows organizations to disseminate and receiveprofession in general. Because those who submit offen-information quickly and efficiently. It can also assist insive, inappropriate, and false submissions tend to become mobilizing public participation if and when needed.the loudest voice in the room, that is the voice that is Stay Connected with us!Web: www.oacp.caFacebook/Instagram: OACPOfficialTwitter: @OACPOfficial24 H.Q. Summer 2022'