Warning (Social Networking Sites)

[MarineMp]

We all know in this day and age, sites like myspace, facebook and all sorts of others exist on the net. This post is to give all serious law enforcement applicants some advice. It is not to help anyone try to hide something, or assist those who are trying to lie and cover things up.

When your background investigation is being conducted, these sites more than likely will be checked. My advice, either ditches them, or at minimum set it to private. Again, this isn’t to hide bad things about you. This is to prevent others that you might not really know that are on your friend list or favorites ruin your chances. Some people on the net post foolish garbage, some profiles might spam Marijuana pictures, disgusting underage bulletins, and all sorts of other things that may look bad. Having said that, you have all been warned, drop them, raise security settings, and try and keep just REAL friends you know personally on them.

[bell4fan]

all the pictures and stuff you posted above are easily deleted if the user doesnt want them on there. I gave my B/I my myspace page addy, have it set to public, etc. Nothing on there I'm scared to show.

[dkl1986]

i just deleted mine when i started to apply. i think my page was all pretty pc, but i had some friends listed on there from hs and whatnot, most of whom i never talked to, that had some innapropriate pics.

[MarineMp]

Like I said, Hiding things is not my point. Are you able to monitor it everyday, all the time? I mean they can pop up anytime. So why risk it. Leaving it public is fine, but make sure you know whom you have on there very well. If someone is trying to hide something, or afraid to show something then they shouldn't even apply to LE.

[Wisbith]

I don't see the appeal in Myspace and other social network websites. They all seem very over rated to me. Then again I don't have any friends to add, so that might be why.

[MarineMp]

Me either. I used to have one for a short time. They are getting Ridiculous.

[dkl1986]

I don't see the appeal in Myspace and other social network websites. They all seem very over rated to me. Then again I don't have any friends to add, so that might be why.

i mainly liked myspace for two reasons.

1- i got in touch with some old friends that i haven't seen or heard from since grade school. although after i initially got in touch with a bunch, we never really talked anymore after that.

2- i always got updated on my favorite bands, what they were up to, new albums, tours, and the like.

other than that, it's a great way to waste time. i actually don't miss it much. i keep in touch with friends on messenger and i just check the band's actual website if i wanna see what's up with them.

[greenlead]

Remember: once something is on the Internet, it is there permanently. Someone, somewhere, has it cached.

[Excalibur]

That's true! I even saw a local news report about Law Enforcement Agencies having a very good relationship with both FB and myspace. Once you are there you are there forever and all the LEO have to do is inquire about your FB or myspace and they get a paper copy of your page, even if it has been deleted by you, it is still in a database somewhere.

**I'll try to find the report and post it.**

[MarineMp]

Yeah, I understand that all and well. The preventive measures are what i am pushing. I am not really sure how long cache works for. I know I was able to find mine for a bit using it, but then it was gone.

[Ferus]

You know up until reading this post I was just planning on deleting my Facebook page once I was applying to an LE agency. Now, I think I'll just keep it up.

I actually go on quite a bit. Their chat system is like MSN so it's a great way to keep up with friends. I add people I know, and that's it. I don't add random people that add me, in fact HATE that. What would be the point??

Anyway I don't mind adding people I know that drink underage and do drugs. If I didn't accept those people, I would have like 3 friends on there. It can also be a vital tool in finding where these people live or what they are going to do. Keep up with them.

Although I am a Police Explorer and everyone at my school knows I want to be a cop, I've rarely ever had problems with this. I like to thank my Dad because he has taught me that even though they have a different lifestyle than you, they may still be good, nice people. My Dad showed me that if you treat them nicely, they will help you out in the long run too, you know return the favor. Like if you need info on where to find someone with a warrant, if you have treated them nicely in the past, they are more willing to help you out in the future.

So, to tie this altogether, yes, I still add the stoners and drinkers from my school, but it's not like there are pictures of me drinking or doing drugs, because I don't do that. I hope the agencies I apply for understand my logic behind being kind to these people that do break the law, because I am sure if you treat them accordingly, you will be a huge success as a cop. We're all on the same team right? There is no "us vs. them" the way I see it.

[TXtrooper9]

Going through my BI I was asked if I was on FB or myspace. I had deleted my FB a long time ago because I was never on it. When I told him I no longer had a FB he seemed to already know this. Responding with: "Yes, I heard it was very professional though".....

I told him I still had a myspace page although it was set to private so he needed my ID and password. I felt really bad because I had not been on myspace for eight months and totally forgot my password :eek: He waited for me on the phone for like five minutes while I tried different passwords. Finally after a few tries I remembered it I felt like a dork!! No worries though, nothing to hide. Just a few old highschool and college friends to keep in touch with.

So yes, they already know before they ask you. Even if you have deleted it. Be honest. That's the only policy you should go by.

[Jimmy Mac]

Some people just post right at the top of their site something like..."If you are planning on posting porn, drugs, illegal stuff, etc., on my site, you will not be welcomed here, and you will be deleted." (banned, kicked off, insert your own text) I thought it was a pretty good idea, honest and to-the-point. Also shows BI's at least you're trying.

[Joeyd6]

Anyway I don't mind adding people I know that drink underage and do drugs.

WTF?

If I didn't accept those people, I would have like 3 friends on there.

So? You have somebody to impress? Would you rather have 20 people with questionable m orals and activities or three solid people who can vouch for you? law enforcement is a lifestyle. You need to forget about your popularity.

It can also be a vital tool in finding where these people live or what they are going to do. Keep up with them.

You can still search them out even if not listed as a friend. And why are we keeping up with those who do drugs? What possibly can they offer you?

Although I am a Police Explorer and everyone at my school knows I want to be a cop, I've rarely ever had problems with this. I like to thank my Dad because he has taught me that even though they have a different lifestyle than you, they may still be good, nice people. My Dad showed me that if you treat them nicely, they will help you out in the long run too, you know return the favor. Like if you need info on where to find someone with a warrant, if you have treated them nicely in the past, they are more willing to help you out in the future.

There is a difference between treating people indifferently and then having scumbags for friends.

So, to tie this altogether, yes, I still add the stoners and drinkers from my school, but it's not like there are pictures of me drinking or doing drugs, because I don't do that.

But there are pictures of them doing that? You know if your in a picture with a guy doing drugs, you will be seen as doing drugs. It is all about perception.

I hope the agencies I apply for understand my logic behind being kind to these people that do break the law, because I am sure if you treat them accordingly, you will be a huge success as a cop. We're all on the same team right? There is no "us vs. them" the way I see it.

We are not on the same team, and it is "us vs. them" every time any of us go to work with the badge and gun. The "us" is all of us wearing blue. Them is everyone else, mostly perps. And while your underlying logic is nice, this is law enforcement! I don't know of any agencies that say, "Hey, glad to see you have druggies and others who break the law as friends, and we hope you stay friendly so that if we need intel, they can give it to us."

What you describe is actually DQ for a national security clearance (for an adult) and woudl DQ you at most PD's. It's called "Associating with known criminals or those with poor morals."

You know they break they law. Your friends with them. You stated you want to "keep in touch with them" What happens ten years from now when you see them doing the same thing and your cop. You going to arrest them? And what will they say to you?

[Ferus]

WTF?
:confused:

So? You have somebody to impress? Would you rather have 20 people with questionable m orals and activities or three solid people who can vouch for you? law enforcement is a lifestyle. You need to forget about your popularity.

I don't feel I have anyone to impress. I don't really physically hang out with people like that. In fact, most of the time I sit at home alone on weekends surfing RP and reading up on LE because a lot of the people that I was good friends with in previous years have resorted to underage parties and drugs. It sucks but I'm not going to let my chances get messed up because of some stupid party. Thanks Joey, you're right though.

You can still search them out even if not listed as a friend. And why are we keeping up with those who do drugs? What possibly can they offer you?

I try to be friendly to them, most of them are friendly to me too, some are pricks as well. I am hoping that if I do have to arrest these acquaintances, that maybe they will be more cooperative with me. That's the goal anyway. Maybe I can help them change, maybe they don't have anyone in their life to tell them drugs and underage drinking is wrong. I don't know, I guess I want to help them in a way.

There is a difference between treating people indifferently and then having scumbags for friends.

Well many of the people added on my Facebook aren't like best friends, or even really friends at all. I would consider an actual friend someone I do things with out of school. Most of the people In have added on there are more of acquaintances than friends really.

But there are pictures of them doing that? You know if your in a picture with a guy doing drugs, you will be seen as doing drugs. It is all about perception.

I see, I see. But I am definitely not in any pictures with anything like that. I would NEVER allow that to happen. I avoid being near alcohol and drugs like poison. The only time I have ever actually even seen drugs in real life is on ride alongs.

We are not on the same team, and it is "us vs. them" every time any of us go to work with the badge and gun. The "us" is all of us wearing blue. Them is everyone else, mostly perps. And while your underlying logic is nice, this is law enforcement! I don't know of any agencies that say, "Hey, glad to see you have druggies and others who break the law as friends, and we hope you stay friendly so that if we need intel, they can give it to us."

I understand what you are getting at. I'm not going to try and argue with you, I am an Explorer and you are a real Police Officer, I have no place. I just like the mentality that when I am an Officer someday, I would like to try and help people help themselves.

What you describe is actually DQ for a national security clearance (for an adult) and woudl DQ you at most PD's. It's called "Associating with known criminals or those with poor morals."

I never knew that, thanks for the information.

You know they break they law. Your friends with them. You stated you want to "keep in touch with them" What happens ten years from now when you see them doing the same thing and your cop. You going to arrest them? And what will they say to you?

Well I hope they would respect me enough to be cooperative and know that I am doing my job and they made the mistake.

Embedded.

And I would also like to thank you for stepping in to correct me. I would rather have that then for people to just let me go on making a mistake and believing an untrue theory.

I attempted to explain my reasoning for what I did, and with what you said I am going to check who I have added as friends and do some maintenance on there, deleting the druggies. I am NOT intentionally trying to argue with you, as I said before, I am just an Explorer and I do not have any right to try and do so.

You probably haven't seen me around much, but I've been on RP for a while and I'm on a lot, but I mainly read and rarely post unless I really have something to add. I have seen many of your posts and you have shared a lot of great info.

Thanks again and with respect,

Ferus