nypd twitter strategy
TRANSCRIPT
William J. BrattonPolice Commissioner
ORIENTATION:NYPD Social Media Rollout
One Police PlazaMonday, June 23rd, 2014
NYPD
ORIENTATION
June 23, 2014
Index
DCSI Contact List 1
Twitter Phase Two Agenda 2
DCSI: Introduction 3
DCPI: Twitter How-To 4
DCIT: Internet Policy Secure Practices 5
DCLM: Guidance on Legal Policy regarding Social Media 6
DCPI 7
Detective Bureau 8
Chief of Department & Strategic Communications 9
DCCP 10
DCPI: Twitter Hot-To Part 2 11
Phase 1 Success Stories 12
DCSI Twitter Metrics 13
Appendix A 14
Appendix B 15
Deputy Commissioner Strategic Initiatives
Office Contact List
Main Line: 646-610-4057
Fax: 646-610-4026
Deputy Commissioner Zachary Tumin
Deputy Inspector Brandon del Pozo
Captain Ian Syversen
Director Martha Norrick
Lieutenant Rhonda O’Reilly-Bovell
Sergeant Matthew Delaney
Sergeant Brighid O’Neil
Sergeant Stella Urban
Police Officer Matthew Tocco
Research Analytics Benjamin Singleton
Policy Advisor Alden Foster
Senior Police Administrative Aide Clare Cranston
Page 1
TWITTER PHASE TWO
Invited
DC Zachary Tumin Capt. Frank Merenda Insp. Kerry Sweet Lt. Patrick Devito Insp. Jesus Pintos Sgt. Matthew Delaney DI Brandon del Pozo Sgt. Joseph Freer DI Luis Despaigne DI Anthony Tasso DI Jeffrey Schiff DI Andrew Savino Capt. Ian Syversen
Sgt. LisaMarie Newkirk Sgt. Anthony Direnzo Sgt. Aaron Lai
Dir. Martha Norrick Policy Adv. Alden Foster
Capt. Oliver Pu-Folkes Lorraine Coleman Capt. Thomas Conforti Attny. Carrie Talansky Capt. Daniel Sosnowik Katherine Byrns
June 23, 2014
ORDER OF PRESENTATION
1. POLICE COMMISSIONER TO ADDRESS GROUP
2. DCSI –INTRO
3. Twitter How-To (Part 1)
4. DCIT
5. BREAK
6. DCLM
7. DCPI / DETECTIVE BUREAU
8. LUNCH
9. CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT / CRIME PREVENTION
10. STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
11. DCCP
12. DCPI Tweet Orientation
Page 2
13. 5 PCT - COMMANDERS SPEAK ON EXPERIENCES
14. BREAK
15. DCSI
16. DCSI – Closing Commentary
TWITTER PHASE TWO
DCSI
Intro
TWITTER PHASE TWO
DCPI
Twitter How-To
Twitter basics
TWITTER PHASE TWO
DCIT
Internet Policy Secure Practices
Social Media Security
May 2014
New York City Police Department Information Security Office
TLP: GREEN
TLP: GREEN
Best Practices - Twitter • Users can protect themselves by following simple best practices. DCIT has implemented these
mandatory policies: • Only NYPD approved devices can be used to access Twitter.
• Personal devices shall never be used unless approved. • Strong passwords for Twitter accounts are required. • *Never* give the account username and password to anyone, ever, for any reason. • *Always* use Twitter’s multi-factor authentication feature, requiring a login code sent by SMS
message to the user’s NYPD phone. • Computer and Operating Systems (including mobile devices) must have the latest patches,
approved permissions/account configuration, antivirus engine and antivirus signatures. • *Never* click on URLs provided in DMs or @ communications. If a legitimate party needs to
communicate a URL to the NYPD, ask them to send it over email (this has the double advantage of requiring an exchange that will prove the other party isn’t a bot).
• Accessing shortened URLs is prohibited. A URL expander *must* be employed to view the full URL before accessing it.
• Access to the NYPD Official Twitter accounts is authorized via HootSuite only. Other third party applications, or access via twitter.com are not authorized.
• Log out of HootSuite and close the browser when not in use. This means closing *all* tabs in the browser, and all instances of separate windows of that browser.
TLP: GREEN
TLP: GREEN
1
TWITTER PHASE TWO
DCLM
Guidance on Legal Policy regarding Social Media
Disclaimer: “The official Twitter of the New York City Police Dept. Call
911 for emergencies - 311 for non-emergencies. Account not monitored
24/7.”
Reports of crime
The purpose of Twitter is not to report emergencies, crimes, or quality
of life conditions.
However, if someone reports a crime, emergency or quality of life
condition on Twitter, you have an affirmative duty to address it.
Allegations of corruption, misconduct or civilian complaints
Patrol Guide procedures 207-22 and 207-31 mandate that members of
the service who become aware of allegations of corruption, misconduct
or civilian complaints report said allegations to: (1) the commanding
officer or (2) the Internal Affairs Bureau.
Twitter policy allows for the removal of the following types of tweets: Tweets threatening violence against others
Tweets of pornography or obscenity
Tweets of other people’s private and confidential information without
their consent (e.g. street addresses, credit card numbers, social security
numbers)
Tweets advocating unlawful or illegal activities
*Remember: Only Twitter can remove tweets
Obscenity and Tweeting
Material is obscene if (1) the average person, applying contemporary
community standards, would find that considered as a whole, its
predominant appeal is to the prurient interest in sex, and (2) it depicts
Office of the Deputy Commissioner Legal Matters
or describes in a patently offensive manner, actual or simulated: sexual
intercourse, criminal sexual act, sexual bestiality, masturbation, sadism,
masochism, excretion or lewd exhibition of the genitals, and (3)
considered as a whole, it lacks serious literary, artistic, political, and
scientific value.
Tweets = First Amendment Speech Just because its offensive, doesn’t mean you can have it removed.
Example: “Officer Smith is a motherf*&ker #DieOfficerSmith”
• The tweet is offensive but it is not threatening nor does it violate
Twitter’s terms of use.
Parolee Information
You may post information about released parolees.
Parolee information is available to the public on NYS Division of
Parole’s website.
Do not editorialize. • Inappropriate: John Smith was released today on parole. He is
now trolling your neighborhood. If you see him, keep your kids
away from him. He’s a rapist!
• Appropriate: John Smith, convicted of a rape in the 88 precinct in
2009, was released on parole today.
Delete the Tweet
Wanted Posters must be removed upon sealing of an arrest.
Information that is no longer relevant to the public (e.g. missing person
who was found or wanted person who was arrested) should be
removed.
Questions
Call the Legal Bureau (646) 610-5400 / 0700-2300 M-F
Call Operations outside of these hours (646) 610-5580
June 2014
Twitter media policy Please see this article for more information on flagging and reporting other images violations.
What can I upload? What will Twitter remove?
Our goal is to provide a service that allows you to discover and receive content from sources that
interest you as well as to easily share your content with others. We also want you to understand our
guidelines for making sure your content is labeled appropriately.
For the most part, using common sense won’t steer you wrong. If you upload media that might be
considered sensitive content such as nudity, violence, or medical procedures, you should consider
applying the account setting “Mark my media as containing sensitive content”.
We do not mediate content, whether that content is an image or text; however, some content is not
permissible by law. All content should be marked appropriately as per our guidelines. You may not
use our service for any unlawful purposes or in furtherance of illegal activities. International users
agree to comply with all local laws regarding online conduct and acceptable content.
Uploaded images that are reported and that are determined to violate the law will be removed from
the site and your account will be suspended. Please review the Twitter Rules for more information
on these violations.
Images that have been marked as containing sensitive content will have a warning message that a
viewer must click through before viewing the image. Only users who have opted in to see possibly
sensitive content will see these images without the warning message. Check out this article for more
information on settings and best practices.
What happens to reported media?
After you flag someone else’s media, the Twitter team will review and determine if that media
requires a warning message in order to comply with Twitter’s Media Policies. Please remember that
by flagging media you are bringing it to the attention of the Twitter team. The flagged content will not
automatically receive a warning message or be removed from the site.
Please review this article if you’d like to learn more about what happens to your account if your
media is flagged.
The Twitter Rules Our goal is to provide a service that allows you to discover and receive content from sources that interest
you as well as to share your content with others. We respect the ownership of the content that users
share and each user is responsible for the content he or she provides. Because of these principles, we do
not actively monitor and will not censor user content, except in limited circumstances described below.
Content Boundaries and Use of Twitter
In order to provide the Twitter service and the ability to communicate and stay connected with
others, there are some limitations on the type of content that can be published with Twitter. These
limitations comply with legal requirements and make Twitter a better experience for all. We may
need to change these rules from time to time and reserve the right to do so. Please check back here
to see the latest.
o Impersonation: You may not impersonate others through the Twitter service in a manner
that does or is intended to mislead, confuse, or deceive others.
o Trademark: We reserve the right to reclaim usernames on behalf of businesses or
individuals that hold legal claim or trademark on those usernames. Accounts using
business names and/or logos to mislead others may be permanently suspended.
o Private information: You may not publish or post other people's private and confidential
information, such as credit card numbers, street address or Social Security/National
Identity numbers, without their express authorization and permission.
o Violence and Threats: You may not publish or post direct, specific threats of violence
against others.
o Copyright: We will respond to clear and complete notices of alleged copyright
infringement. Our copyright procedures are set forth in the Terms of Service.
o Unlawful Use: You may not use our service for any unlawful purposes or in furtherance of
illegal activities. International users agree to comply with all local laws regarding online
conduct and acceptable content.
o Misuse of Twitter Badges: You may not use badges, such as but not limited to the
Promoted or Verified Twitter badge, unless provided by Twitter. Accounts using these
badges as part of profile photos, header photos, background images, or in a way that
falsely implies affiliation with Twitter may be suspended.
Abuse and Spam Twitter strives to protect its users from abuse and spam. User abuse and technical abuse are not tolerated on Twitter.com, and may result in permanent suspension. Any accounts engaging in the activities specified below may be subject to permanent suspension.
o Serial Accounts: You may not create multiple accounts for disruptive or
abusive purposes, or with overlapping use cases. Mass account creation
may result in suspension of all related accounts. Please note that any
violation of the Twitter Rules is cause for permanent suspension of all
accounts.
o Targeted Abuse: You may not engage in targeted abuse or harassment.
Some of the factors that we take into account when determining what
conduct is considered to be targeted abuse or harassment are:
o if you are sending messages to a user from multiple accounts;
o if the sole purpose of your account is to send abusive messages to
others;
o if the reported behavior is one-sided or includes threats
o Username Squatting: You may not engage in username squatting.
Accounts that are inactive for more than six months may also be removed
without further notice. Some of the factors that we take into account when
determining what conduct is considered to be username squatting are:
o the number of accounts created
o creating accounts for the purpose of preventing others from using
those account names
o creating accounts for the purpose of selling those accounts
o using feeds of third-party content to update and maintain accounts
under the names of those third parties
o Invitation spam: You may not use Twitter.com's address book contact
import to send repeat, mass invitations.
o Selling usernames: You may not buy or sell Twitter usernames.
o Malware/Phishing: You may not publish or link to malicious content
intended to damage or disrupt another user’s browser or computer or to
compromise a user’s privacy.
o Spam: You may not use the Twitter service for the purpose of spamming
anyone. What constitutes “spamming” will evolve as we respond to new
tricks and tactics by spammers. Some of the factors that we take into
account when determining what conduct is considered to be spamming are:
o If you have followed and/or unfollowed large amounts of users in a
short time period, particularly by automated means (aggressive
following or follower churn);
o If you repeatedly follow and unfollow people, whether to build followers
or to garner more attention for your profile;
o If your updates consist mainly of links, and not personal updates;
o If a large number of people are blocking you;
o If a large number of spam complaints have been filed against you;
o If you post duplicate content over multiple accounts or multiple
duplicate updates on one account;
o If you post multiple unrelated updates to a topic using #, trending or
popular topic, or promoted trend;
o If you send large numbers of duplicate @replies or mentions;
o If you send large numbers of unsolicited @replies or mentions in an
aggressive attempt to bring attention to a service or link;
o If you add a large number of unrelated users to lists in an attempt to
bring attention to an account, service or link;
o If you repeatedly create false or misleading content in an attempt to
bring attention to an account, service or link;
o Randomly or aggressively favoriting Tweets through automation in an
attempt to bring attention to an account, service or link;
o Randomly or aggressively Retweeting accounts through automation in
an attempt to bring attention to an account, service or link;
o If you repeatedly post other users' account information as your own
(bio, Tweets, url, etc.);
o If you post misleading links (e.g. affiliate links, links to malware/click
jacking pages, etc.);
o Creating multiple misleading accounts in order to gain followers;
o Selling followers;
o Purchasing followers;
o Using or promoting third-party sites that claim to get you more
followers (such as follower trains, sites promising "more followers fast,"
or any other site that offers to automatically add followers to your
account);
o Pornography: You may not use obscene or pornographic images in either
your profile photo, header photo, or user background.
Your account may be suspended for Terms of Service violations if any of the above is true. Please see our help pages on Following rules and best practices and Automation rules and best practices for a more detailed discussion of how the Rules apply to those particular account behaviors. Accounts created to replace suspended accounts will be permanently suspended.
Accounts engaging in any of these behaviors may be investigated for abuse. Accounts under investigation may be removed from Search for quality. Twitter reserves the right to immediately terminate your account without further notice in the event that, in its judgment, you violate these Rules or the Terms of Service.
We may revise these Rules from time to time; the most current version will always be at twitter.com/rules.
Have Questions? Check out our complete list of articles outlining our policies, guidelines, and best practices.
To report an account for violation of the Twitter Rules, please use our forms.
Trademark policy Updated October 3, 2012
What is a Trademark Policy Violation on Twitter?
Using a company or business name, logo, or other trademark-protected materials in a manner that
may mislead or confuse others with regard to its brand or business affiliation may be considered a
trademark policy violation.
How Does Twitter Respond To Reported Trademark Policy Violations?
When we receive reports of trademark policy violations from holders of federal or international
trademark registrations, we review the account and may take the following actions:
o When there is a clear intent to mislead others through the unauthorized use of a
trademark, Twitter will suspend the account and notify the account holder.
o When we determine that an account appears to be confusing users, but is not purposefully
passing itself off as the trademarked good or service, we give the account holder an
opportunity to clear up any potential confusion. We may also release a username for the
trademark holder's active use.
o We are responsive to reports about confusing or misleading Promoted
Tweet and Promoted Trend copy, as well as Promoted Account profile information. For
more information, please visit our Trademark Policy for Promoted Products.
What Is not a Trademark Policy Violation?
Using another's trademark in a way that has nothing to do with the product or service for which the
trademark was granted is not a violation of Twitter's trademark policy.
o Twitter usernames are provided on a first-come, first-served basis and may not be
reserved. For information on why you may not be able to select a certain username, please
see our Why Can't I Register Certain Usernameshelp page.
o Search and interest keywords advertisers choose are subject to applicable trademark law.
Although Twitter may review reports of confusing keywords, we may not disable keywords
in every case. For more information about our policies specific to Promoted Products,
please see our Promoted Products Policy and our Trademark Policy for Promoted
Products.
Reseller Policy (applies only to the United States) Resellers may promote the resale of the genuine branded goods of a trademark holder, provided that they comply with certain restrictions:
o The reseller may not imply affiliation with the trademark owner, such as by
falsely representing that it is an authorized agent of the brand owner
o The goods must not be materially different from those that have been
authorized for sale by the brand owner
o If the goods have been repackaged, this fact must be clearly stated
Guidelines for News feed, Commentary, and Fan Accounts Twitter users are allowed to create news feed, commentary, and fan accounts. Twitter provides a platform for its users to share and receive a wide range of ideas and content, and we greatly value and respect our users' expression. Because of these principles, we do not actively monitor users' content and will not edit or remove user content, except in cases of violations of our Terms of Service.
An account's profile information should make it clear that the account is not actually the company or business entity that is the subject of the news feed/commentary/fan account. Here are some suggestions for distinguishing your account:
o Username: The username should not be the trademarked name of the
subject of the news feed, commentary, or fan account.
o Name: The profile name should not be the trademarked name of the
company or include the trademarked name in a misleading manner.
o Bio: The bio should include a statement to distinguish it from the real
company, such as “Unofficial Account," "Fan Account," or "Not affiliated
with…"
o Profile photo, header photo, or background image: The account should
not use another’s trademark, logo or other copyright-protected image without
express permission.
o Communication with other users: The account should not, through private
or public communication with other users, try to deceive or mislead others
about your identity.
Users may also choose to use different language to indicate that an account is not associated with the actual brand/company/product so long as it is clear and not confusing to others, and does not mislead or deceive. If an account is reported to be confusing, we may request that the account holder make further changes to bring the account in compliance with these best practices.
How Can I Make My Own Account's Brand or Business Affiliation Clear? We strongly recommend that you use all of Twitter's account settings (account name, location, web, and bio) to make your account's affiliation clear.
o Please see our How to Change Your Profile Picture or Information page for
instructions on customizing your account. In particular, we recommend
clearly stating your location, including your website if you have one, and
clearly describing your brand or business in the bio, if applicable.
o You can also consider linking your official website to your Twitter
account. Twitter Buttons are an easy way to add Twitter actions like “Follow”
and “Mention” directly to your website.
What Information is Required When Reporting Trademark Policy Violations? In order to investigate trademark policy violations, please provide all of the following information:
Username of the reported account (e.g., @safety or http://www.twitter.com/safety): Your company name: Your company Twitter account (if there is one): Company website: Your trademarked word, symbol, etc. (e.g. Twitter): Trademark registration number: Trademark registration office (e.g., USPTO):
Note: A federal or international trademark registration number is required. If the name you are reporting is not a registered mark (e.g., a government agency or non-profit organization), please let us know:
Your first and last name: Title: Address: Phone: Fax: Email (must be from company domain):
Description of confusion (e.g., passing off as your company, including specific descriptions of content or behavior):
Requested Action (e.g., removal of violating account or transfer of trademarked username to an existing company account):
How Do I Report a Trademark Policy Violation? You do not need a Twitter account to submit a trademark report. Holders of registered trademarks can report possible violations to Twitter's Policy Team through our support forms.
Please submit trademark-related requests from your company email address and follow the format above to help expedite our response. Also, be sure to clearly describe to us why the account or Tweets may cause confusion with your mark.
Reporting spam on Twitter "Spam" describes a variety of prohibited behaviors that violate the Twitter Rules. Behaviors that
constitute "spamming" will continue to evolve as we respond to new tactics by spammers.
What is spam?
Here are some common tactics that spam accounts often use:
o Posting harmful links (including links to phishing or malware sites)
o Aggressive following behavior (mass following and mass un-following for attention)
o Abusing the @ reply or @ mention function to post unwanted messages to users
o Creating multiple accounts (either manually or using automated tools)
o Posting repeatedly to trending topics to try to grab attention
o Repeatedly posting duplicate updates
o Posting links with unrelated tweets
How to report spam:
If you think you've found a spam profile, follow these steps to report it to us:
1. Visit the spam account's profile.
2. Click or tap the gear icon. This brings up a drop-down actions menu.
3. Select Block or Report.
4. If you do not wish to block this account, uncheck the Block option.
5. Select This is a spam account.
6. You can find out more about the block feature on our Blocking users on Twitter help page. This page also shows you how to unblock an account if you've changed your mind.
How to report other harmful accounts:
If you find other harmful, annoying, or illegal content on Twitter, please view our help page for information on how to file Terms of Service or Rules complaints. Thanks!
Reporting individual Tweets You can also report individual Tweets that are in violation of the Twitter Rules or our Terms of Service. This includes spam, harassment, impersonation, copyright, or trademark violations. Learn more about how to report Tweets.
Still need help? Contact Support.
Guidelines for Law Enforcement These guidelines are intended for law enforcement authorities seeking information about Twitter
accounts. Information concerning requests to withhold content on Twitter is available here. More
general information is available in our Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and Twitter Rules.
What is Twitter? Twitter is a real-time global information network that lets users create and share ideas and
information instantly. People and organizations send 140-character messages through our website
and mobile site, client applications (e.g., Twitter for Android; Twitter for iOS), SMS, or any variety of
third-party applications.
For more information, please visit: https://about.twitter.com. For the latest on Twitter's features and
functionality please visit our Help Center.
Who Holds Twitter Account Information? In accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, user account information is held by
Twitter, Inc.
What Account Information Does Twitter Have? Most Twitter account information is public, so anyone can see it. A Twitter account profile contains a
profile photo, header photo, background image, and status updates, called Tweets. In addition, the
account holder has the option to fill out a location (e.g., San Francisco), a URL (e.g., twitter.com),
and a short "bio" section about the account for display on their public profile. Please see our Privacy
Policy for more information on the data we collect from and about users.
Does Twitter Have Access to User-Generated Photos or Videos?
Twitter provides photo hosting for some image uploads (i.e., pic.twitter.com images) as well as
Twitter account profile photos, header photos, and account background images. However, Twitter is
not the sole photo provider for images that may appear on the Twitter platform. More information
about posting photos on Twitter can be found here.
Twitter does not provide hosting for videos other than those posted to Vine.
What is Vine?
Vine is a standalone mobile service, owned by Twitter, Inc., that lets users create and share short
looping videos. More information is available in our Help Center.
Data Retention Information Twitter retains different types of information for different time periods. Given Twitter's real-time
nature, some information (e.g., IP logs) may only be stored for a very brief period of time.
Some information we store is automatically collected, while other information is provided at the
user’s discretion. Though we do store this information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. For
example, the user may have created a fake or anonymous profile. Twitter doesn’t require real name
use, email verification, or identity authentication. More information on Twitter’s retention policies can
be found in our Privacy Policy.
NOTE: Once an account has been deactivated, there is a very brief period in which we may be able
to access account information, including Tweets. More information about deactivated accounts is
available here. Content deleted by account holders (e.g., Tweets) is generally not available.
Preservation Requests
We accept requests from U.S. law enforcement to preserve records which constitute potentially
relevant evidence in legal proceedings. We will preserve, but not disclose, a temporary snapshot of
the relevant account records for 90 days pending service of valid legal process.
Preservation requests, in accordance with applicable law, should be signed by the requesting
official, include the @username and URL of the subject Twitter profile (e.g., @safety
and https://twitter.com/safety), have a valid return official email address, and be sent on law
enforcement letterhead. Requests may be sent via the methods described below.
Requests for Twitter Account Information Requests for user account information from U.S. law enforcement should be directed to Twitter, Inc.
in San Francisco, California. Twitter responds to valid legal process issued in compliance with U.S.
law.
Private Information Requires a Subpoena or Court Order
Non-public information about Twitter users will not be released to law enforcement except in
response to appropriate legal process such as a subpoena, court order, or other valid legal process
– or in response to a valid emergency request, as described below.
Contents of Communications Requires a Search Warrant
Requests for the contents of communications (e.g., Tweets, Direct Messages, photos) require a valid
search warrant from an agency with proper jurisdiction over Twitter.
Will Twitter Notify Users of Requests for Account Information?
Yes. Twitter's policy is to notify users of requests for their account information, which includes a copy
of the request, prior to disclosure unless we are prohibited from doing so (e.g., an order under 18
U.S.C. § 2705(b)). Exceptions to prior notice may include exigent or counterproductive
circumstances (e.g., emergencies; account compromises).
What Details Must Be Included in Account Information Requests?
When requesting user account information, please include:
o The @username and URL of the subject Twitter account in question (e.g., @safety
and https://twitter.com/safety);
o Details about what specific information is requested (e.g., basic subscriber information) and its
relationship to your investigation;
o NOTE: Please ensure that the information you seek is not available from our public API.
We are unable to process overly broad or vague requests.
o A valid official email address (e.g., [email protected]) so we may get back in touch with
you upon receipt of your legal process.
Requests may be submitted by fax or mail; our contact information is available at the bottom of these
Guidelines. Requests must be made on law enforcement letterhead.
NOTE: We do not accept legal process via email at this time; our support system does not allow
attachments for security reasons.
Production of Records
Unless otherwise agreed upon, we currently provide responsive records in electronic format (i.e.,
text files that can be opened with any word processing software such as Word or TextEdit).
Records Authentication
The records that we produce are self-authenticating. Additionally, the records are electronically
signed to ensure their integrity at the time of production. If you require a declaration, please explicitly
note that in your request.
Emergency Disclosure Requests In line with our Privacy Policy, we may disclose account information to law enforcement in response
to a valid emergency disclosure request.
Twitter, Inc. evaluates emergency disclosure requests on a case-by-case basis in compliance with
relevant U.S. law (e.g.,18 U.S.C. § 2702(b)(8)). If we receive information that provides us with a
good faith belief that there is an exigent emergency involving the danger of death or serious physical
injury to a person, we may provide information necessary to prevent that harm, if we have it.
How To Make an Emergency Disclosure Request
If there is an exigent emergency that involves the danger of death or serious physical injury to a
person that Twitter may have information necessary to prevent, law enforcement officers can
submit an emergency disclosure request through our web form (the quickest and most efficient
method).
Alternatively, you may fax emergency requests to 1-415-222-9958 (faxed requests may result in a
delayed response); please include all of the following information:
o Indication on your cover sheet, which must be on law enforcement letterhead, that you're
submitting an Emergency Disclosure Request;
o Identity of the person who is in danger of death or serious physical injury;
o The nature of the emergency (e.g., report of suicide, bomb threat);
o Twitter @username and URL (e.g., @safety and https://twitter.com/safety) of the subject
account(s) whose information is necessary to prevent the emergency;
o Any specific Tweets you would like us to review;
o The specific information requested and why that information is necessary to prevent the
emergency;
o The signature of the submitting law enforcement officer; and
o All other available details or context regarding the particular circumstances.
International law enforcement authorities may submit requests for emergency disclosure.
Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties Twitter, Inc.’s policy is to promptly respond to requests that are issued via U.S. court either by way of a mutual legal assistance treaty (“MLAT”) and letters rogatory, upon proper service of process.
Assisting a Twitter User If you are assisting a Twitter user with an investigation and want to obtain a copy of the Twitter user’s non-public account information, please ask the user to contact us directly (see below) to request his or her own information.
Twitter Archive Registered Twitter account holders can obtain a download of Tweets posted to their Twitter account. Directions on how a user can request that information is available in our Help Center.
Non-Public Information Twitter does not currently offer account holders a self-serve method to obtain other, non-public information (e.g., IP logs) about their Twitter accounts. If a Twitter user requires his or her non-public account information, please direct the user to request this information directly from Twitter, Inc. by sending an email to [email protected] with subject: Request for Own Account Information; we will respond with further instructions.
Other Issues Most issues can be resolved by having Twitter account holders submit inquires directly to us through our Help Center. More information on how to report violations is available here.
General Inquiries Other general inquiries from law enforcement or government officials can be submitted through our web form.
Contact Information Our address and fax details are:
Twitter, Inc. c/o Trust & Safety - Legal Policy 1355 Market Street, Suite 900 San Francisco, CA 94103 Fax: 1-415-222-9958 (attn: Trust & Safety - Legal Policy)
Receipt of correspondence by any of these means is for convenience only and does not waive any objections, including the lack of jurisdiction or proper service.
Non-law enforcement requests should be submitted through our Help Center.
TWITTER PHASE TWO
DCPI
TWITTER POSTING EXAMPLES CRIME STOPPERS POSTINGS
“You don’t have to give your name to share information and help keep the 84th
Precinct safe. Please visit the Crime Stoppers’ website at www.crimestoppers.nyc.gov
to see our wanted gallery.”
PROGRAM POSTINGS
Security Surveys: “Contact the 84th
Precinct’s Crime Prevention Officer at 718-555-
5555 to schedule a security survey of your home or business – you will receive a
confidential, in-depth written report addressing security vulnerabilities and suggesting
corrective measures free of charge.”
Operation Identification: “Bring your portable valuables such as laptops, tablets,
cellular phones, etc. to the 84th
Precinct to register with the Police Department – we
will loan you an engraver to mark your valuables with an identifiable serial number
and provide you with window stickers to alert people that your property has been
registered with the Department’s Operation Identification program.”
Taxi/Livery Robbery Inspection Program (TRIP): “Taxi and livery drivers living or
working in the 84th
Precinct – enroll in the Department’s Taxi/Livery Robbery
Inspection Program today. Police are permitted to briefly stop an enrolled vehicle at
any time of the day or night to verify the safety of the driver and riders.”
Bike Registration: “Enroll your bicycle with the 84th
Precinct today – we will mark
your bike with an identification number using an engraver, and affix a difficult to
remove decal. In the event that the bicycle is stolen and recovered, it can be traced
back to you through the I.D. number.”
RECRUITMENT POSTINGS
Police Officer: “The Police Department is seeking the best and brightest recruits to
support and continue our increasingly complex crime-fighting mission. We offer
benefits, varied work assignments, and unlimited opportunity. Take the NYPD Exam
today! Visit www.nypdrecruit.com for details.”
Cadet: “College students – for an outstanding hourly wage, tuition assistance, a
flexible work schedule, and promotional opportunities, begin your police career by
joining the NYPD’s Cadet Corps. Visit www.nypdcadets.com for further
information.”
Auxiliary Police: “Interested in giving back to your community? Join the NYPD’s
Auxiliary Police, and volunteer at your local precinct. You will provide extra “eyes
and ears” for the Department by performing uniformed patrols to observe and report
conditions requiring the services of the regular police. Volunteers come from many
diverse backgrounds and a myriad of occupations throughout the City – contact the
84th
Precinct’s Auxiliary Coordinator at 718-555-5555 for more information.”
Explorer Program: “Law Enforcement Exploring is a community service, career-
oriented program designed to educate young men and women, ages 14-20, about law
enforcement. Explorers are taught the importance of higher education, self discipline,
and respect for authority while they actively participate in community service projects
and other Exploring events. Contact the 84th
Precinct’s Community Affairs Officer at
718-555-5555 to enroll your child today.”
COMMUNITY COUNCIL POSTINGS
“The 84th
Precinct Community Council president Jane Smith invites all who live and
work in our community to our monthly meetings, held the third Tuesday of every
month at the 84th Precinct at 7:00 p.m. Visit www.nyc.gov/
communityaffairs/084pctcommunitycouncil.gov for a calendar of special events and
more information.”
TRAFFIC CONDITIONS POSTINGS
Traffic Alert: “Henry Street between Atlantic Avenue and Montague Street will be
closed to all vehicles between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 1st,
2013 due to construction. Use Court Street as an alternate route.”
Collision Data: “To view the New York City Police Department’s Motor Vehicle
collision Data Reports please visit, http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/
traffic_reports/motor_vehicle_collision_data.shtml, for a complete list of statistical
information.”
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS POSTINGS
Gun Buyback: “Join the 84th
Precinct, the King’s County District Attorney, and the
Grace Episcopal Church on Sunday, June 2nd
, 2013 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. at
Grace Church on Hicks Street between Joralemon and Remsen Streets for a Cash for
Guns event – the Police Department will pay two hundred dollars for any handgun,
sawed-off shotgun, or assault weapon in apparent operative condition, no questions
asked.”
Cricket League: “The NYPD’s Cricket League is a recreational league founded to
develop better relations between New York Police and the immigrant communities
within the city. Contact the 84th
Precinct’s Community Affairs Officer at 718-555-
5555 for more information.”
Parades: “The annual St. George’s parade and street fair will be held on Saturday
June 9th
, 2013, from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. Willow Place between Joralemon and
State streets will be closed for the festivities, and representatives from the 84th
Precinct will be available to answer questions about the Department’s Auxiliary and
Explorer programs.”
CRIME DATA POSTINGS
Crime Statistics: “To view the crime statistics in your neighborhood visit,
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/crime_prevention/crime_statistics.shtml, for a
complete list, borough, and precinct crime statistics.”
Crime Statistics: “To view Historical New York City Crime Data visit,
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/analysis_and_planning/historical_nyc_crime_dat
a.shtml, for a breakdown of crime from 2000-2012.”
CRIME PREVENTION POSTINGS
“Personal Safety Alert: Carry purses, portfolios or briefcases in a manner that will
allow you to let go. Straps placed across your shoulder, around your neck or wrapped
around your waist have caused injuries because women could not free themselves
during a purse snatch. For more tips, contact the NYPD’s Crime Prevention Division
at 212-614-6741.”
“Personal Safety Alert: Be street smart – use well-populated and well-lit streets. If
you suspect you're being followed, stay away from deserted blocks and head for an
area where there are people or to the nearest open store. For more tips, contact the
NYPD’s Crime Prevention Division at 212-614-6741.”
“Personal Safety Alert: Park in a well-lit area to discourage a personal attack and
reduce the risk of your car being stolen. Look around before exiting your car. Close
all windows and lock the doors. Take any valuables with you. For more tips, contact
the NYPD’s Crime Prevention Division at 212-614-6741.”
TWITTER PHASE TWO
Detective Bureau
Detective Bureau
Request for Media Attention (RMA)
Request for Social Media Attention (RSMA)
Wanted Posters
Crime Stoppers
TWITTER PHASE TWO
Chief of Department &
Strategic Communications
Report It.
Safety
CON ED: 800.752.6633
NATIONAL GRID (KEYSPAN): 800.930.5003
DEP/WATER: 311
PSEG LI: 800.490.0025
Request I.D.
Deception Burglaries.
What Can I Do?
Stay inside your home and do not open the door. Do not invite anyone into your home while you verify a “work order.” You may want to keep a list of utility companies phone numbers in a convenient location
Contact the company to verify employee’s legitimacy (company numbers may be looked up via internet or on your bill). You may want to keep a list of utility company phone numbers in a convenient location.
Contact
Immediately report a theft or suspicious activity to the NYPD by calling 911. If you can not verify the I.D., feel unsafe, or suspect criminal activity, call 911 immediately.
Verify his/her I.D. through the view finder (peephole).
The Scam.Criminals often target elderly victims, and operate during normal business hours (9am-5pm), making them less likely to question the situation. These impersonators use false covers such as; utility companies, delivery companies, and companies such as plumbing or electrical contractors. A common ploy being used is; “A pipe broke down the block and we have to check the water.” Once inside, the perpetrator(s) manipulate and distract a victim while pocketing their valuables.
Your Command Here
Address
Phone
TIPS FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY
ATM.What Can I Do?
Be aware of suspicious people near the entrance.
Be Aware
Avoid ATM's that have unlocked doors or are directly out on the street.
Indoor
Put your money away and take your card and receipt before exiting an ATM.
Money
Your card is exclusively for your entry only.
Card
Make sure the door closes behind you.
Lock
Use well-lit, well-populated ATM's. People
Immediately report a theft or suspicious activity to the NYPD by calling 911.
Report It.
Block a bystander's view when doing your transaction.
View
Use mirrors, positioned at the ATM, to see behind you.
Mirrors Your Command Here
Address
Phone
Report It.
Green Dot Card Scam.
What Can I Do?
If you can not verify the I.D., feel unsafe, or suspect criminal activity, call 911 immediately.
CautionBe suspicious of callers who demand immediate payment for any reason.
InformationNever give out information to anyone who emails or calls you unsolicited.
Know ThemNever wire money, provide debit or credit card numbers or Green Dot Money-Pak card numbers to someone you do not know.
Know ThisUtility companies and government agencies will not contact you demanding immediate payment by Money-Pak.
RememberRemember that anyone who has the number on a Green Dot Money-Pak card has access to the funds on the card.
The Scam.People are losing thousands of dollars in a phone scam involving Green Dot MoneyPak cards.After receiving a call from someone who claims to be collecting a debt from either a Utility Company, the IRS or as settlement for an auto accident; people are being threatened with the loss of their heat, electric, possible deportation or criminal prosecution. Three typical scenarios:IRS Scam -- A caller informs the victim that they owe back taxes to the IRS and must make immediate payment with a Green Dot Money-Pak.Accident Scam -- The victim’s family member had a car accident and the caller threatens physical violence unless immediate reimbursement is made with a Green Dot Money-Pak.Utility Scam -- Utility companies demand immediate payment by Green Dot Money-Pak or your electricity or gas will be turned off.
Your Command Here
Address
Phone
1500px
500px
70px
70px
Desktop
Mobile
iPhone
NEVER LEAVE YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY UNATTENDED
Property Theft.What Can I Do?
Don’t leave laptop computers unattended -- even for a minute.
Laptops
Carry your purse close to your body. Never wrap the strap around your body.
Purse
Follow your instincts. Remember, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
Instincts
When in a bar or restaurant, don't leave your handbag over the back of your chair, on a stool or on the floor.
Handbags
Carry only the amount of cash or number of credit cards necessary to make your purchases for the day.
Cash & CardsWhite headsets are a dead giveaway. Protect your musical device by keeping it out of sight.
Headsets
Place items out of sight in the trunk of your vehicle prior to reaching your destination. Never leave packages in the vehicle.
Car Items
Immediately report a theft or suspicious activity to the NYPD by calling 911.
Report It.
Hold on to your cell phone and keep it secured out of sight when not in use.
Cell Phones
Never Carry your wallet in the rear pants pocket which is one of the easiest to pick.
Wallets
Be wary of distractions. Sometimes one perp diverts your attention while another picks your pocket or steals your belongings.
Distractions
Report It.
Vehicle Theft.
What Can I Do?Contact your local precinct crime prevention officer or visit our website at www.nyc.gov/nypd for more information on the programs we offer.
LockAlways lock and secure your vehicle. Always activate your alarm every time you leave your vehicle. Consider locking lug nuts to deter rim theft.
KeysNever leave the keys in the ignition when you exit the vehicle -- even for a minute!
PropertyNever leave property in your vehicle.Items such as loose change, shopping bags, GPS, cell phones, laptops, tablets and the charging chords are targeted by thieves.
ParkingPark in high traffic or well lit areas, when possible.
EnrollEnroll in NYPD anti-theft programs such as VIN Etching, Operation ID and Combat Auto Theft.
Safeguard your vehicle..Vehicles are stolen for a variety of reasons, including theft for parts, insurance fraud, retagging, exporting, and joy riding. To help prevent the theft and damage to your vehicle, we suggest the following:
Report It.
Safety
CON ED: 800.752.6633
NATIONAL GRID (KEYSPAN): 800.930.5003
DEP/WATER: 311
PSEG LI: 800.490.0025
Request I.D.
Deception Burglaries.
What Can I Do?
Stay inside your home and do not open the door. Do not invite anyone into your home while you verify a “work order.” You may want to keep a list of utility companies phone numbers in a convenient location
Contact the company to verify employee’s legitimacy (company numbers may be looked up via internet or on your bill). You may want to keep a list of utility company phone numbers in a convenient location.
Contact
Immediately report a theft or suspicious activity to the NYPD by calling 911. If you can not verify the I.D., feel unsafe, or suspect criminal activity, call 911 immediately.
Verify his/her I.D. through the view finder (peephole).
The Scam.Criminals often target elderly victims, and operate during normal business hours (9am-5pm), making them less likely to question the situation. These impersonators use false covers such as; utility companies, delivery companies, and companies such as plumbing or electrical contractors. A common ploy being used is; “A pipe broke down the block and we have to check the water.” Once inside, the perpetrator(s) manipulate and distract a victim while pocketing their valuables.
ATM Skimming.
What Can I Do?
Before UsingGive the card reader a tug. See if it feels loose or out of place. Inspect the ATM, gas pump, or credit card reader before using it. Be suspicious if you see anything loose crooked or damaged, or if you notice scratches or adhesive tape/residue.
The Scam.ATM “Skimming” occurs when a criminal attaches a phony card reading device over the real card reader located either at the lobby entrance door or on the ATM machine, the phony device looks identical to the real device and is equipped with electronic recorders that will capture the financial information from your card. This data is later used to create “cloned” cards which will later be used to withdraw money.
Money TrapBe aware of "Money Trapping", where the criminal attaches a device to the cash dispenser "trapping" the customer's money and retrieves it after the customer leaves the ATM area.
ProtectionWhen entering your PIN, cover the keypad with your other hand to prevent possible hidden cameras from recording your number.
Be careful of ATMs in tourist areas - they are a popular target of skimmers
Be Aware
TugThese devices are usually attached with two sided tape and can be discovered by simply tugging on areas where the card must be swiped.
Skimming device can also be affixed to the card reader at the entrance door to the ATM.
Door
Report It.Immediately report any skimming devices to your financial institution and the NYPD by calling 911.
TIPS FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY
Walking.What Can I Do?
Use well-populated and well-lit streets.
People
If you're driven home, ask the driver to wait until you are safely inside.
Escort
If you suspect you're being followed, stay away from deserted blocks and head for an area where there are people or to the nearest open store.
Open Stores
Immediately report a theft or suspicious activity to the NYPD by calling 911.
Report It.
Should a motorist bother you while you are walking, reverse your direction. If you are still followed, seek a safe location and yell for help, if possible.
Evade or Yell
TIPS FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY
Home.What Can I Do?
Have your keys ready before you get to the door.
Keys
If you live in an apartment, close the lobby door behind you, especially if a stranger is
Lobby Door
If a stranger asks to use the phone, keep your door locked and tell them you will place the call for them. Keep him/her out of your home.
Strangers
If there is an emergency, call 9-1-1. Call from a pay phone or a neighbor's house. Wait there for the police to arrive
Call 911
Make sure your entrance area is well lit. Entrance
Make all visitors and delivery persons use the doorbell.
Visitors
Place your name on the inside of the mailbox where only the mail carrier will see it. If a name must be on the outside, use only the last name, e.g., the Smiths.
Mailbox
Should you arrive home and find signs of a burglary, STAY OUT.
Vacate
TIPS FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY
Elevator.What Can I Do?
When waiting for an elevator, leave the lobby/hallway if someone makes you feel uncomfortable.
Waiting
Stand between the control panel and door when in the elevator.
Location
If accosted, press as many buttons as possible to try and get the elevator to stop at the next floor.
Buttons
Check the elevator's mirror before entering.
Mirror
Immediately report a theft or suspicious activity to the NYPD by calling 911.
Report It.
Exit the elevator if someone enters that makes you feel uneasy.
Exit
If you feel the need to give an excuse, you can say, "Oh, I forgot my mail."
Forgot
TIPS FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY
Driving.What Can I Do?
TIPS FOR YOUR PROPERTY SAFETY
Parking.What Can I Do?
TrunkKeep your car well maintained and the gas tank at least half full to avoid getting stranded.
Gas Tank
Put your purse on the floor of your car. Purse
Drive carefully - Help us achieve our Vision Zero goal of no vehicle related deaths
Vision ZeroShould you suspect that you are being followed, make several turns down active streets.If the vehicle continues to follow, head for the nearest police station, fire house, or open store.
Evade
Keep valuables secured in the trunk, not lying on the seat next to you.
Park
Look around before exiting your car. Look
Close all windows and lock the doors. Close
Take any valuables with you.Take
Park in a well-lit area to discourage a personal attack and reduce the risk of your car being
TIPS FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY
Purse/Wallet.What Can I Do?
Carry purses or briefcases in a manner that will allow you to let go.
Grip
Always be aware of your surroundings and carry your pocketbook clasp toward you, close to your body, tucked in the bend of your elbow as if it were a football.
Carry
Be particularly aware of your purse/wallet in crowded situations, such as rush-hour trains and buses.
Purse
If you are jostled in a crowd, be aware that a pickpocket might be responsible.
Bumps Divide money between your purse/wallet and pockets.
Cash & Cards
Straps placed across your shoulder, around your neck or wrapped around your waist have caused injuries because women could not free themselves during a purse snatch.
Straps
Carry your keys on your person separate from your identification.
Keys
If there is a long strap, wrap it around the bag.
Long Strap
If someone attempts to snatch your pocket book, let go of it, especially if there is a weapon involved.
Release
TIPS FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY
Subway and Bus.What Can I Do?
Use only entrances marked by a green indicator, where there is a clerk present 24 hours a day.
Entrance
Use designated waiting areas during off-peak hours.
Wait
Cover jewelry; turn stone rings toward the palm side of your hand.
Jewelry
Stay awake and aware and exit with the crowd.
Awake
Be aware of your wallet/purse to avoid a pickpocket
Stay Alert
Wait and walk close to the wall. Walk
Have your money or metro card available.
Ready
Wait for the bus on the sidewalk away from the curb.
Sidewalk
Ride in the conductor's car during off-peak hours.
Ride
Sit in the center of the car, away from the door, to avoid a purse or chain snatch.
Sit
Sit near the front of the bus. Sit in Front
TIPS FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY
Phones/Social Media.What Can I Do?
When recording an outgoing message on your answering machine, avoid leaving your name, phone number or a message that you're not at home.
Stay Aware
Say your message confidently. Confidence
A good message is, "We are unable to answer the phone, please leave a message."
Message
Immediately report a theft or suspicious activity to the NYPD by calling 911.
Report It.
Don’t post when you’ll be away or on vacation in social media networks.
Information
Register your Smart Phones and Tablets FREE with the NYPD.
Register
Report It.
Green Dot Card Scam.
What Can I Do?
If you can not verify the I.D., feel unsafe, or suspect criminal activity, call 911 immediately.
CautionBe suspicious of callers who demand immediate payment for any reason.
InformationNever give out personal or financial information to anyone who emails or calls you unsolicited.
Know ThemNever wire money, provide debit or credit card numbers or Green Dot Money-Pak card numbers to someone you do not know.
Know ThisUtility companies and government agencies will not contact you demanding immediate payment by Money-Pak.
RememberRemember that anyone who has the number on a Green Dot Money-Pak card has access to the funds on the card.
The Scam.People are losing thousands of dollars in a phone scam involving Green Dot MoneyPak cards.After receiving a call from someone who claims to be collecting a debt from either a Utility Company, the IRS or as settlement for an auto accident; people are being threatened with the loss of their heat, electric, possible deportation or criminal prosecution. Three typical scenarios:IRS Scam -- A caller informs the victim that they owe back taxes to the IRS and must make immediate payment with a Green Dot Money-Pak.Accident Scam -- The victim’s family member had a car accident and the caller threatens physical violence unless immediate reimbursement is made with a Green Dot Money-Pak.Utility Scam -- Utility companies demand immediate payment by Green Dot Money-Pak or your electricity or gas will be turned off.
TIPS FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY
ATM.What Can I Do?
Be aware of suspicious people near the entrance.
Be Aware
Avoid ATM's that have unlocked doors or are directly out on the street.
Indoor
Put your money away and take your card and receipt before exiting an ATM.
Money
Your card is exclusively for your entry only.
Card
Make sure the door closes behind you.
Lock
Use well-lit, well-populated ATM's. People
Immediately report a theft or suspicious activity to the NYPD by calling 911.
Report It.
Block a bystander's view when doing your transaction.
View
Use mirrors, positioned at the ATM, to see behind you.
Mirrors
For drug-related issues call the Mayor’s Drug Hotline at1 (888) 374-DRUG (3784).
If you have information about past crimes,Call 1 800-577-TIPS (8477) Rewards up to $2,000
To report an illegal handgun,Call 1 866 GUN-STOP (486-7867) Rewards up to $1,000
If you have any information or concerns about crews or gangs in your neighborhood, contact the Juvenile Justice Division at (212) 343-3707.
All numbers areCONFIDENTIAL.
www.youtube.com/nypd
www.facebook.com/nypdwww.twitter.com/nypdnews
www.nyc.gov/nypd
WILLIAM J. BRATTONPolice Commissioner
BICYCLE SAFETY TIPS & RULES
more at www.nyc.gov/bikes
05000100001500020000
12,000
6,000
5,591
1992-2001
2,315 Lives Saved
TWO DECADE COMPARISON NYC BLACK MURDER VICTIMS
Previous 10 Years1992-2001
Last 10 Years2002-2011
2002-2011
3,276
Vs.
-41%
WILLIAM J. BRATTONPolice Commissioner
WILLIAM J. BRATTON Police Commissioner
THE SCAM UNFOLDS LIKE THIS:The spiritual blessing con game is a scam that targets elderly women, primarily from the Chinese community. The perpetrators are typically Chinese women who approach potential victims on the street and engage them in conversa-tion. The perpetrator will convince her victim that he or she is being followed by evil spirits and that bad luck or illness will befall the victim or members of his or her family. The con artist then tells her victim that she will help, but only if the victim brings all of her valuables (money and jewelry) to a meeting place where her belongings will be placed into a “good luck” bag for three days. Unfortunately, when the victim opens the bag she will discover that all of her money and jewelry have been removed and replaced with valueless items.
AVOID FALLING VICTIM TO THIS CRIME, PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING TIPS:
Don’t believe strangers who say they can remove bad luck or evil spirits.
Don’t hand your valuables over to strangers. Perpetrators are Mandarin or Cantonese speaking females 30 - 40 years of age, working in groups of three (3). If you are approached by such a person, or people, call 911 immediately! If you have any information that may help the police regard-ing these incidents, please call Crime Stoppers @ 1-800-577-TIPS
BEWARE:THE SPIRITUAL BLESSING CON GAME
CRIME PREVENTION SECTION
WILLIAM J. BRATTON Police Commissioner
Taxi Cab Safety Tips.
WILLIAM J. BRATTON Police Commissioner
Mobile Phone Safety Tips.
Beware of any caller claiming to be in dire need of money.
Do not panic and say a family member’s name.
Verify the caller is who they say they are.
Ask for a call back number and tell the caller you will call them back.
Never wire money in a panic.
For more Safety Tips and news follow us @facebook.com/nypd
Beware of the Telephone Scam.
WILLIAM J. BRATTON
Police Commissioner
Beware of the Telephone Scam!
TelephoneScam Alert
Beware of people calling you on the phone and asking you to wire money.Anyone is a potential victim!The target victim of this scam is called by someone claiming to be a relative who needs bail money to get out of jail. Or they may claim your family member has been kidnapped and will demand ransom be paid via a money transfer service such as Western Union.Anyone calling and asking you for money MUST be considered suspicious.
If your recieve a call asking you to wire money there is a chance you are being scammed.
Crime Prevention Tips
Hang up the phone.
Remain calm and contact your loved one to verify their safety.
Never wire money in a panic.
Never give your personal or financial information to the caller.
CALL 9-1-1
WILLIAM J. BRATTON Police Commissioner
Telephone Scam Safety Tip.
SAFEGUARD YOUR VEHICLE
Vehicles are stolen for parts, insurance fraud, retagging, exporting, and joy riding.To help prevent the theft and damage to yourvehicle, we suggest the following:
Always lock and secure your vehicle.
Always activate your alarm every time you leave your vehicle.
Never leave the keys in the ignition when you exit the vehicle.
Never leave your property in your vehicle. Items such as loose change, shopping bags, GPS, cell phones, laptops, tablets and the charging devices related to electronic devices are targeted by thieves.
Park in high traffic or well lit areas, when possible.
Enroll in NYPD anti-theft programs such as Operation ID and Combat Auto Theft.
Contact your local precinct crime prevention officer or visit our website at www.nyc.gov/nypd about these free programs.
IF YOUR CAR IS STOLEN:Report the theft to the police, dial 911.
ATTEND YOUR LOCAL PRECINCTCOMMUNITY COUNCILMeetings occur once a monthexcept for July and August. For the time/date, call your local precinct Community AffairsOfficer or visit our website listed below.
www.nyc.gov /nypd
Emergency situations ...call 911Non-emergencies .........call 311Suspicious activity .......1-888-NYC-SAFE
WILLIAM J. BRATTON Police Commissioner
For further information please contact our Crime Prevention Section at (646) 610-5323 or via email [email protected]
If you have information regarding pharmacy robberies or burglaries of prescription medicines please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS, text "TIP577" (plus your message) to "CRIMES" (274637).
CRIME DOESN’T PAY. CRIMESTOPPERS DOES.Sponsored by the New York City Police Foundation
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS KILL.
REWARDS UP TO $2,000CALL 1-800-577-TIPS
REWARDS UP TO $2,000for information leading to an arrest and an indictment.
CALL 1-800-577-TIPS
TWITTER PHASE TWO
DCCP
• Does Twitter fit in with the work of DCCP?
Increasing awareness to services for victims
Announcing partnerships with other city agencies
Informing community about upcoming events
Below is a list of example tweets:
◦ National Crime Victims’ Rights Week begins April 6. Visit www.ovc.gov for information about resources and events. #NYPD2014
◦ Free resources are available to help victims of financial fraud this #NYPD2014. Download here: http://ow.ly/ q1Nmi
◦ April 7-11 is National Youth Violence Prevention Week. Learn how to engage your community: http://ow.ly/ rpMKA #NYPDProtectOurKids2014
Contact information on presenter: ◦ Captain Oliver Pu-Folkes, Commanding Officer,
Collaborative Initiative within the Office of Collaborative Policing
◦ Office # 646-610-8363
◦ Cell # 917-681-2152
◦ Email: [email protected];
TWITTER PHASE TWO
DCPI
Twitter How-To Part 2
Dos and Don’ts
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER PUBLIC INFORMATION Twitter is about sending and receiving group messages. The messages are limited to 140 characters and they are called tweets. It has many add-ons that make it powerful, but text messages are the real answer to the “what is Twitter question”. Twitter also is considered a social networking service because people create profiles and connect with other people electronically on the service. The connecting process is similar to Facebook, only on Twitter the people who connect with you are called "followers" instead of "friends." As with Facebook, you develop a list of connections whose profiles you can browse and with whom you can swap messages. People use Twitter to learn about topics they care about and to share their thoughts with other people--in other words, to both send and receive messages. After the service launched in 2006, it quickly became a major communication platform for news and information, used both professionally and personally. Millions of people use it to keep up to date on news and trends in their professions or areas of interest, simply by reading tweets. Celebrities and media professionals are big Twitter users, sending tweets out to legions of followers. Politicians and government officials also send many tweets, which often are quoted in the media as sources of news. Because Twitter is a two-way messaging system, most Twitter users also choose to communicate their own thoughts and ideas by writing and sending tweets to their followers. Those followers can include friends, professional colleagues, others working in the same field, members of other niche audiences, and even the general public. Photos and web links can also be added into tweets however, they do take up some of the 140 character limitation. Twitter by default publishes all of your tweets in a public timeline that anyone can browse. You can make your tweets private, but that severely limits the usefulness of your Twitter account. If people can't browse your tweets because they're private, fewer people will be able to "follow" you, and Twitter is all about people "following" or text-talking to other people. Twitter Jargon Tweet -- Tweet (noun) is a message posted on Twitter with 140 or fewer characters, also called a post or an update. Tweet (verb) means to send a tweet (AKA post, update or message) via Twitter. @ Sign-- The @ sign is an important code on Twitter, used to refer to individuals on Twitter. It is combined with a username and inserted into tweets to refer to that person or send them a public message. (Example: @username.) When @ precedes a username, it automatically gets linked to that user's profile page. Mention -- A mentions refers to a tweet that include a reference to any Twitter user by placing the @symbol in front of their handle or username. (Example: @username.) Twitter tracks mentions of users when the @symbol is included in the message. Profile -- A Twitter profile is the page that displays information about a particular user. Blocking -- Blocking on Twitter means preventing someone from following you or subscribing to your tweets.
Direct Message, DM -- A direct message is a private message sent on Twitter to someone who is following you. These cannot be sent to anyone who is not following you. On Twitter's website, click the "message" menu and then "new message" to send a direct message. Favorite -- Favorite is a feature on Twitter that allows you to mark a tweet as a favorite to easily see it later. Click the "Favorite" link (next to a star icon) beneath any tweet to favorite it. Find People/Who to Follow -- "Find people" is a function on Twitter now marked "Who to Follow" that helps users find friends and other people to follow. Click "Who to Follow" at the top of your Twitter home page to start finding people. This article explains how to find celebrities on Twitter. Follow, Follower -- Following someone on Twitter means subscribing to their tweets or messages. A follower is someone who follows or subscribes to another person's tweets. Learn more in this guide to Twitter followers. Handle, Username -- A Twitter handle is a username selected by anyone using Twitter and must contain fewer than 15 characters. Each Twitter handle has a unique url, with the handle added after twitter.com. Example: http://twitter.com/username. Hashtag -- A Twitter hashtag refers to a topic, keyword or phrase preceded by the # symbol. An example is #skydivinglessons. Hashtags are used to categorize messages on Twitter. Read a definition of hashtags or more about using hashtags on Twitter. #FF or Follow Friday -- #FF refers to "Follow Friday," a tradition that involves Twitter users recommending people to follow on Fridays. These tweets contain the hashtag #FF or #FollowFriday. The Guide to Follow Friday explains how to participate in #FF on Twitter. Promoted Tweets -- Promoted tweets are Twitter messages that companies or businesses have paid to promote so they appear at the top of Twitter's search results. Reply, @Reply -- A reply on Twitter is a direct tweet sent by clicking on the "reply" button that appears on another tweet, thus linking the two tweets. Reply tweets always start with "@username." Retweet -- A retweet (noun) means a tweet that had been forwarded or "resent" on Twitter by someone, but was originally written and sent by someone else. To retweet (verb) means to send someone else's tweet to your followers. Retweeting is a common activity on Twitter and reflects the popularity of individual tweets. RT -- RT is an abbreviation for "retweet" that is used as a code and inserted into a message being resent to tell others that it's a retweet. Short Code -- On Twitter, the short code refers to a 5-digit phone number that people use to send and receive tweets by SMS text messages on mobile phones. In the United States, for example, the code is 40404.
Timeline -- A Twitter timeline is a list of tweets that is dynamically updated, with the most recent appearing at the top. Each user has a timeline of tweets from the people they follow, which appears on their Twitter home page. The tweet list appearing there is called a "home timeline." Learn more in this Twitter timelines explainer or this tutorial on Twitter timeline tools. Top Tweets -- Top tweets are the tweets Twitter deems to be most popular at any moment based on a secret algorithm. Twitter describes top tweets as messages "that lots of people are interacting with and sharing via retweets, replies, and more." Top tweets are displayed under the Twitter handle @toptweets. Trending Topic -- Trending topics on Twitter are topics people are tweeting about that are deemed most popular at any given moment. They appear on the right side of your Twitter home page. In addition to the official "trending topics" list, many third-party tools are available for tracking the most popular keywords and hashtags on Twitter. Tweet Button -- Tweet buttons are buttons you can add to any website, which allow others to click the button and automatically post a tweet containing a link to that site. Twitterati -- Twitterati is slang for popular users on Twitter, people who usually have large groups of followers and are well known. Twitosphere -- The Twitosphere (sometimes spelled "Twittosphere") is all the people who tweet. Twitterverse -- Twitterverse is a mashup of Twitter and universe. It refers to the entire universe of Twitter, including all its users, tweets and cultural conventions. Unfollow -- To un-follow on Twitter means to stop subscribing or following another person's tweets. You un-follow people by clicking on "following" on your home page to see your list of followers. Then mouse over "Following" to the right of any user's name and click the red "Unfollow" button.
NYPD Twitter DOs
NYPD Twitter DON’Ts
Maintain Your AccountUpdate daily (if possible).
Use PhotosTweets that include photos or video links are retweeted at a much higher rate than those with text alone.
Respond Quickly to Simple Comments & QuestionsTake the time to be social and engage with those who have taken the time to follow you.
Strive for EngagementAsk and answer questions, join conversations and groups, comment on others’ updates, retweet, etc.
Over TweetConsider quality vs. quantity. Ask yourself whether the content you’re tweeting is useful.
Just Tweet Headlines & LinksTo add value to the tweet, give your take on the subject or pull an interesting quote from it.
ArgueKeep your tweets positive. Keep hot-button topics out of your stream. Know when it’s appropriate to step back instead of adding fuel to the fire.
Use Police JargonAvoid using police jargon, codes and slang in your tweets.
Share Your AccomplishmentsTweet the positive accomplishments within your command/precinct.
Include Useful Hashtags (#)Think of a hashtag as a search term. Use no more than two hashtags per tweet.
Use Abbreviations & AcronymsWhen PossibleLearn the Twitter lingo.
Proofread Your TweetRead your tweet twice before posting.
Search Twitter for CommentsUse search. Twitter’s search bar is one of its greatest assets.
Thank People for Comments, Follows, RetweetsIf you wish to give a more personal thanks, send a direct message (DM) to that person.
Use Modified Tweet (MT) to Retweet (RT) a Long TweetIf you “Modify a Tweet,” the proper protocol would be to use “MT @username:” prior to the message. This lets the reader know that you made changes to it.
Use a URL Shortner for Long Links URL shorteners are tools which make long hyperlinks much shorter, saving character space (ex: Goo.gl, Bit.ly).
Extend Replies to One PersonTwitter is a social platform, take the time to engage all who might contact you.
Use CAPSALL-CAPITAL LETTERS are considered as “shouting” and are difficult to read.
Use All 140 charactersTry to use 100 - 125 characters to leave room for retweets (RT).
Delete Your TweetsDon’t. If in doubt, refer to Department Counsel Guidelines.
Ignore Negative Tweets or Complaints You do not have to respond to every tweet, but admit mistakes when you need to, and share how you’re going to address any issues. A simple response can actually turn an angry detractor into an appreciative supporter of the department.
Compromise a Case with a TweetRefer to the Patrol Guide.
Mention a Condition without a ConclusionBefore you write about a condition, reflect on what you are doing to change that situation.
√
X
Ideas for TweetsHow to Get Involved ■ Thank People ■ Special Category Missing ■
Crime Prevention ■ Local Events: Before & After ■ Officer of the Month ■
Domestic Violence: Tips, Events, Services ■ Traffic Safety & Enforcement ■
Youth Officer: Explorers, Schools, PAL, ect. ■ Precinct Community Council ■
Traffic Conditions ■ Community Affairs ■ Holiday Wishes ■ Initiatives ■
Auxiliary Police & Crossing Guards ■ Department Sports ■ Clergy Liaisons ■
Neighborhood Visits: Stores, Religious ■ Behind the Scenes
1
Tweeting Guidelines
It is the policy of the New York City Police Department that all existing rules, laws,
regulations, orders, and directives that govern on- and off-duty conduct are applicable
to conduct associated with social media and networking
Use common sense—remember that what you write is public information
Please familiarize yourself with the inserted Patrol Guide procedures concerning
Performance on Duty – Prohibited Conduct (203-06), Public Contact – Prohibited Conduct
(203-10) and Release of Information to New Media (212-77)
Below is a list of general guidelines for Dos and Don’ts concerning Twitter posts (please
note this list is not exhaustive in nature) :
Tweet Suggestions:
Traffic conditions
Community Information
Advisories and Alerts
o Missing Persons
o Amber Alerts
o Crime Alerts (i.e. car break ins, ID theft, or train robberies)
o Major events within the precinct boundaries (before, during,
and after)
o Emergencies
Weather Alerts and Tips
Crime Prevention tips
Domestic Violence tips
Links to other NYC Agencies
Information pertaining to In Case of an Emergency
Wanted Posters
Exceptional police work
Commendations (internal and external)
Pertinent precinct personnel contact information
(i.e. Crime Prevention and Community Affairs)
Patterns or Crime Hot Spots
Crime prevention tips
Local news media articles or updates
Retweets of interagency information
(i.e. Politicians, Community Groups, 311, NYC.gov)
Appreciation toward community groups
Youth programs and information
PAL, Sports
Ask for questions
2
Community Affairs
Holidays
Thanking the public
Public invitation to events
Use Photos
Tag people
Use hashtags
Use some shorthand
Get involved
Retweet important topics or police news
Local issues and news
Tweets to Avoid
Crime scene information/photos
Ongoing police investigations
Becoming involved in a public argument
Using police jargon
Use of CAPS
Use all shorthand
Use all the characters
I-Cards
Specific Retweets
Compromising photos or information linked to MOS or public
individuals/groups
Abusive language or comments
Discriminating or bias information
Any information that is confidential in nature
o Color of the day
o Muster points and personnel numbers
o Detail Rosters
o Personal contact information of MOS/Public officials
o Any information that may hinder police response to
emergencies or prevent effective police investigations
Discrediting of public officials, MOS, or the public in general
Any conduct that is specifically prohibited in the above mentioned
Patrol Guide procedures
Political endorsements
TWITTER PHASE TWO
NYPD
Phase 1 Success Stories
Phase One, Twitter Commander Success Stories
1. Tweet-Along, 112th Pct.
Forest Hills residents were allowed virtual access to a tour on patrol with the 112th Precinct.
Photographs and job summaries were Tweeted throughout the tour, giving community members an
exciting chance to see their neighborhood through the eyes of an NYPD patrol sector. This Twitter
segment was followed by several media outlets, and was received positively.
2. Blood Drive, PSA-6
During the month of April, community residents were notified via Twitter of an upcoming Blood Drive to
be held at PSA-6. These notification Tweets spread through the community generating interest and
enthusiasm, and greatly increasing participation. During a typical blood drive, approximately twenty
donors respond, but following the Twitter push, thirty seven donors responded to give blood and help
save lives. So great was the level of interest following the Twitter push, the blood drive will return again
to PSA-6.
3. Lindenwood Flooding, 106th Pct.
In the Lindenwoood section of Howard Beach, Queens, dozens of basements were flooded due to a
combination of heavy rains and sewer problems. Some first-floor apartments were also flooded as
residents pumped out their homes. About 10 blocks and 100 homes were affected. Residents were
kept updated of relief services through @NYPD106Pct. Information provided was retweeted numerous
times and used to help residents navigate this crisis.
4. Train Derailment, 112th Pct.
On a busy Friday morning in May, a Manhattan-bound F train derailed in Queens, injuring 19 passengers
and causing a major disruption to multiple subway lines. 15 passengers suffered minor injuries due to
the derailment, while others were treated at area hospitals with more serious injuries, mostly from
inhaling smoke. The police and fire departments evacuated 1,000 passengers from the train through
subway grates. The passengers had been stranded underground for about an hour. During the incident,
@NYPD112 kept New York City residents posted on the event, allaying fears and allowing people to
redirect their commute. The @NYPD112 Tweets were the first and primary source of information
among all city agencies.
5. Twitter Easter Egg Hunt, 112th Pct.
In a fun twist on the traditional Easter egg hunt, four eggs were hidden within the confines of the 112
Precinct with clues to their location Tweeted out by the precinct commander. During the day, clues
revealed the eggs were with various sector cars with instructions to look for RMP numbers, approach
the officers and give fun passwords to receive an egg. The lucky winners finding the eggs received an
NYPD baseball cap and a gift card. Photographs of the winners were then later posted on the 112th
precinct’s Twitter feed.
6. Puerto Rican Day Parade, 25th Pct.
Before the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade, numerous Tweets and Retweets were delivered to the
community advising of road closures and traffic detours along the parade route and in nearby areas.
This allowed community residents to better plan their weekend travel plans in advance of the parade,
reducing traffic congestion and creating a safer environment to enjoy the festivities.
7. Violent Gang Takedown, PSA-6
During a carefully coordinated operation in the Manhattanville and Grant housing projects, 40
suspected gang members were arrested in connection with a massive conspiracy and gang investigation.
The suspects — members of Make It Happen Boys, Money Avenue and 3 Staccs — were responsible for
at least 19 shootings and two homicides. During this large scale sweep, residents of the development
were advised via Twitter to remain calm. These Tweets engaged the community and allowed for the
peaceful completion of one of the largest gang takedowns in New York City history.
TWITTER PHASE TWO
DCSI
Twitter Metrics
NYPD Social ToplinesMAY 30, 2014 - JUNE 15, 2014
ENGAGEMENT
2.93 2.13 .57
19.90 15.48 2.27
APPLAUSE
14.05 36.65 2.35
GROWTH
6.0% 2.0% 21.0%
AMPLIFICATION
@CommissBratton
Source: Deputy Commissioner, Strategic Initiatives
@NYPDNews Precinct Initiative
@CommissBratton @NYPDNews Precinct Initiative
@CommissBratton @NYPDNews Precinct Initiative
@CommissBratton @NYPDNews Precinct Initiative
(AVG. REPLIES/TWEET)
(AVG. FAVORITES/TWEET)
(AVG. RETWEETS/TWEET)
(% WEEK FOLLOWER GROWTH)
FOLLOWER GROWTH
0
500
1000
1500
2000
NYPD106Pct
NYPD112Pct
NYPD25Pct
NYPD83Pct
NYPDChiefBanks
NUMBER OFFOLLOWERS
DATES
NYPDPSA6
4/22 5/2 5/9 5/28 6/3 6/5 6/6 6/165/15 5/16 5/19 5/27
NYPD Social ToplinesMAY 30, 2014 - JUNE 15, 2014
Source: Deputy Commissioner, Strategic Initiatives
NYPD Social CampaignsMAY 30, 2014 - JUNE 15, 2014
@NYPD112PCT TRAFFIC
Source: Deputy Commissioner, Strategic Initiatives
SUMMONSES ISSUED: 157 Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian 49 Cell Phone Usage 105 Disobey Sign
W. HARLEM CREW TAKEDOWN
NYPD in the NewsMAY 30, 2014 - JUNE 15, 2014
Source: Deputy Commissioner, Strategic Initiatives
NYPD in the NewsMAY 30, 2014 - JUNE 15, 2014
STABBING ARREST
Source: Deputy Commissioner, Strategic Initiatives
W. HARLEM CREW TAKEDOWN
HIGHLIGHTING SERVICE
CRIME PREVENTION ANDQUALITY OF LIFE
NYPD Precinct HighlightsMAY 30, 2014 - JUNE 15, 2014
Source: Deputy Commissioner, Strategic Initiatives
NYPD Most Shared ContentMAY 30, 2014 - JUNE 15, 2014
Source: Deputy Commissioner, Strategic Initiatives
UPWORTHY PIECE ON CHAPLAIN LATIF
IG APPOINTMENT AND #CHANGETHENYPD
NYPD Chaplain Latif was awarded the Alumni Distinguished Service Award by the NYU College of Arts and Sciences. The video of his speech is going viral on social media via Upwor ‐thy, one of the largest sources of shared material on the web.
Coordinated campaign by local organizations to publicize Communities United for Police Reform’s newly released report entitled “Priorities for the New Inspector General: Pro‐moting Safety, Dignity and Rights for All New Yorkers.”
NYPD Social, Week AheadMAY 30, 2014 - JUNE 15, 2014
Source: Deputy Commissioner, Strategic Initiatives
Page 1
TWITTER PHASE TWO
Appendix A
Patrol Guide Procedures
203-06
212-49
212-77
Operations Order (updated June 17, 2014)
22 of 2014
Mayor’s Social Media Policy (NYC)
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
PERFORMANCE ON DUTY – PROHIBITED CONDUCT
1. Consuming any amount of intoxicants while on duty whether in uniform or civilian clothes. a. Member assigned to duty in civilian clothes may be granted
permission by the bureau chief/counterpart concerned based upon the nature of the member’s assignment.
2. Consuming intoxicants while in uniform whether on or off duty. 3. Bringing or permitting an intoxicant to be brought into a Department building,
facility, booth, boat, or vehicle, except in performance of police duty. 4. Entering premises serving intoxicants, except for meal or performance of duty. 5. Carrying a package, umbrella, cane, etc., while in uniform, except in
performance of duty. 6. Recommending use of particular business, professional or commercial
service to anyone except when transacting personal affairs. 7. Steering business, professional or commercial persons to a prospective
client requiring such services except when transacting personal affairs. 8. Consenting to payment by anyone to regain lost or stolen property or
advising such payment, except towing fees as provided by law for recovered stolen vehicles.
9. Riding in any vehicle, other than a Department vehicle to which assigned, while in uniform, except when authorized or in an emergency (sergeants and police officers only).
10. Using Department logo unless authorized by Police Commissioner. 11. Wearing any item of apparel which contains a Department logo or shield,
or in any way identifies its wearer with the New York City Police Department, unless approved by the Uniform and Equipment Review Committee, prior to being worn by a member of the service, uniformed or civilian, on or off duty. a. This prohibition extends to the use of the Department logo or shield in
artistic or mural form, in caricature or cartoon-like representation, or on such items that include, but are not limited to: (1) Pins (2) Jewelry (3) Hats (4) Mugs (5) Clothing items (6) Patches (7) Writing implements (8) Challenge coins (9) Department property (walls, muster room entryway, watercraft,
etc.) (10) Any other adornment or curio.
12. Engaging in card games or other games of chance in a Department facility. 13. Engaging in illegal gambling anywhere except in performance of duty.
PATROL GUIDE
Section: General Regulations Procedure No: 203-06
PERFORMANCE ON DUTY – PROHIBITED CONDUCT
DATE ISSUED: DATE EFFECTIVE: REVISION NUMBER: PAGE:
08/01/13 08/01/13 1 of 2
PATROL GUIDE PROCEDURE NUMBER: DATE EFFECTIVE: REVISION NUMBER: PAGE:
203-06 08/01/13 2 of 2
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
PERFORMANCE ON DUTY – PROHIBITED CONDUCT (continued)
14. Having any person make a request or recommendation that affects the duties of any member of the service, except as provided by Department procedures.
15. Engaging in conduct defined as discriminatory in P.G. 205-36, “Employment Discrimination,” “SCOPE” statement.
16. Using Department letterhead, personnel, equipment, resources, or supplies for any non-Department purpose or non-city purpose.
17. Using any electronic/digital device (e.g., personal gaming device, MP3 player, personal digital assistant, Bluetooth headset, etc.) while on duty.
NOTE
A cellular phone is authorized to be used by members of the service when conducting official Department related business, or on an assigned meal, or as otherwise authorized by competent authority. The cellular phone must be carried in a concealed manner that does not interfere with authorized equipment.
18. Manipulating manually or electronically, transmitting in any form, or distributing any official Department recorded media or recorded media coming into possession of the Department as evidence or for investigative purposes except as authorized for official Department business. Recorded media includes videotapes, photographic images or pictures, audio recordings, electronic or internet files or any like forms to be available in the future.
19. Wearing, carrying, or using an unauthorized portable radio while on duty. 20. Making an unauthorized radio transmission.
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC CONTACT – PROHIBITED CONDUCT
1. Using discourteous or disrespectful remarks regarding another person’s ethnicity, race, religion, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, or disability. a. Members shall address the public using pronouns, titles of respect,
and preferred name appropriate to the individual’s gender identity/expression as expressed by the individual. The term “gender” shall include actual or perceived sex and shall also include a person’s gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression, whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the legal sex assigned to that person at birth.
2. Knowingly associate with any person or organization: a. Advocating hatred, oppression, or prejudice based on race,
religion, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, or disability.
b. Disseminating defamatory material. c. Reasonably believed to be engaged in, likely to engage in, or to
have engaged in criminal activities. d. Preventing or interfering with performance of police duty.
3. Divulging or discussing official Department business, except as authorized. 4. Manipulating manually or electronically, transmitting in any form, or
distributing any official Department recorded media or recorded media coming into possession of the Department as evidence or for investigative purposes except as authorized for official Department business. Recorded media includes videotapes, photographic images or pictures, audio recordings, electronic or internet files, or any like forms to be available in the future.
5. Engaging in conduct prejudicial to good order, efficiency, or discipline of the Department.
6. Making recommendation for or concerning any person or premises to any government agency in connection with issuance, revocation, or suspension of any license or permit, except when required in performance of duty.
7. Soliciting, collecting, or receiving money for any political fund, club, association, society, or committee.
8. Joining any political club within the precinct to which assigned. 9. Being a candidate for election to, or serving as member of a School
Board, if School District is located within City of New York (see Section 2103-a, Education Law).
10. While on duty or in uniform, endorsing political candidates or publicly expressing personal views and opinions concerning the merits of: a. Any political party or candidate for public office;
PATROL GUIDE
Section: General Regulations Procedure No: 203-10
PUBLIC CONTACT - PROHIBITED CONDUCT
DATE ISSUED: DATE EFFECTIVE: REVISION NUMBER: PAGE:
08/01/13 08/01/13 1 of 3
PATROL GUIDE PROCEDURE NUMBER: DATE EFFECTIVE: REVISION NUMBER: PAGE:
203-10 08/01/13 2 of 3
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC CONTACT – PROHIBITED CONDUCT (continued)
b. Any public policy matter or legislation pending before any government body; or
c. Any matter to be decided by a public election, except with the permission of the Police Commissioner.
11. Having an interest in or association with premises engaged in illegal gambling operations, smoke shops, after hours clubs, or similar illegal activities, except in performance of duty.
12. Patronizing unlicensed premises (social clubs, after hours clubs, etc.) where there is illegal sale of alcoholic beverages and/or use of drugs, except in performance of duty.
13. Violating Section 1129 of the New York City Charter. This section provides that any uniformed member who shall accept any additional place of public trust or civil emolument, OR who shall be nominated for any office elective by the people, and does not decline said nomination within ten days, shall be deemed thereby to have vacated his or her position/office in the Department. This vacatur of office shall not apply to the following: a. A member of a community board b. An appointment, nomination, or election to a board of education
outside the City of New York c. A member, who with the written authorization of the Mayor, shall
accept any additional place of public trust or civil emolument, while on leave of absence without pay from the Department.
d. A member who, with the written approval of the Police Commissioner, shall accept any additional place or position outside the City of New York, limited to volunteer work as a member or volunteer in, of, or for a community board, not-for-profit corporation, volunteer fire department, or other similar community-oriented entity.
14. Smoking in public view while in uniform. 15. Occupying seat in a public conveyance, while in uniform, to exclusion of
paying passenger. 16. Occupying seat on a train, while in uniform and assigned to train patrol
duties. 17. Using personal card describing police business, address, telephone
number, or title except as authorized by Department Manual. 18. Rendering any service for private interest, which interferes with proper
performance of duty. 19. Possessing or displaying police shield, IDENTIFICATION CARD
(PD416-091), or similar object except as authorized by the Police Commissioner.
20. Failing to provide notice to the Department of an obligation or intention to perform services in any federal military branch or state militia organization.
PATROL GUIDE PROCEDURE NUMBER: DATE EFFECTIVE: REVISION NUMBER: PAGE:
203-10 08/01/13 3 of 3
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC CONTACT – PROHIBITED CONDUCT (continued)
21. Serving on a community board’s Public Safety Committee (which deals directly with Police Department and other law enforcement matters).
22. Voting on any matter that comes before the community board concerning Police Department activities in the district that the board serves.
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
PURPOSE
To cooperate with media representatives by not interfering or allowing others to interfere with media personnel acting in their news gathering capacity.
NOTE
A member of the press with proper credentials may not be excluded from an area where the general public has access.
PROCEDURE
Whenever a member of the service (uniformed or civilian) becomes involved in an incident or confrontation with media personnel or media personnel are assaulted, harassed or their vehicles/equipment are vandalized/damaged at the scene of news events:
UNIFORMED MEMBER OF THE SERVICE
1. Determine if any threat to safety of media representatives exists and take appropriate action.
2. Request response of a supervisory officer.
SUPERVISORY MEMBER
3. Cooperate with and assist media representatives and provide safe access to the scene, if possible.
4. Conduct immediate investigation if member of the media is assaulted, harassed or their vehicle/equipment is vandalized/damaged.
5. Attempt to obtain third party witnesses if confrontation with members of the service or others.
6. Request all parties, including witnesses, if possible, to report to precinct of occurrence for further investigation, when necessary.
7. Notify the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information without delay.
NOTE
The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for consultation and/or response to incidents involving the media. Members of the service are required to immediately notify the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information of any incident involving the media, regardless of the outcome of that incident.
DESK OFFICER
8. Notify: a. Commanding officer/duty captain b. Lieutenant platoon commander c. Operations Unit.
LIEUTENANT PLATOON COMMANDER
9. Respond to command, if in the field, and under the supervision of the commanding officer/duty captain, conduct investigation of incident.
NOTE
The commanding officer/duty captain will perform the duties of the lieutenant platoon commander, if the platoon commander is unavailable.
PATROL GUIDE
Section: Command Operations Procedure No: 212-49
INCIDENTS INVOLVING MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES
DATE ISSUED: DATE EFFECTIVE: REVISION NUMBER: PAGE:
08/01/13 08/01/13 1 of 2
PATROL GUIDE PROCEDURE NUMBER: DATE EFFECTIVE: REVISION NUMBER: PAGE:
212-49 08/01/13 2 of 2
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
LIEUTENANT PLATOON COMMANDER (continued)
10. Prepare report on Typed Letterhead containing details of incident and results of investigation and forward to: a. Chief of Patrol/bureau chief concerned b. Borough commander concerned c. Commanding Officer, Public Information Division d. Command file.
NOTE
The Office of Deputy Commissioner - Public Information will maintain a central repository of all reports received of incidents involving news media representatives.
11. Forward supplementary report, if necessary.
COMMANDING OFFICER/ DUTY CAPTAIN
12. Respond to command and supervise the investigation and preparation of the report by the lieutenant platoon commander.
ADDITIONAL DATA
Members of the service will not interfere with the video taping or the photographing of incidents in public places. Intentional interference such as blocking or obstructing cameras or harassing the photographer constitutes censorship. Working Press Cards clearly state the bearer “is entitled to cross police and fire lines.” This right will be honored and access will not be denied. However, this does not include access to interior crime scenes or areas frozen for security reasons. In order to cooperate more fully with members of the news media and provide them with access to cover newsworthy events, the following guidelines will be adhered to unless safety interests or proper performance of police duties require otherwise: a. To the extent it is feasible to do so, the media’s access to demonstrations on
private property will not be impeded by the Department. b. The media will be given access as close to the activity as possible, with a clear
line of sight and within hearing range of the incident. c. When incidents spill over or occur on private property, members of the media will
not be arrested for criminal trespass, unless an owner or representative expressly indicates that the press is not to be permitted to enter or remain on the property.
d. If the ranking officer at the incident determines that press access must be restricted in certain circumstances (i.e., in order for the Department to carry out its law enforcement functions), he retains the discretion to do so.
RELATED PROCEDURES
Information Concerning Official Business of Department (P.G. 212-76) Release of Information to News Media (P.G. 212-77)
FORMS AND REPORTS
Typed Letterhead
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
PURPOSE
To facilitate the accurate, timely and proper dissemination of information to the public through the news media.
SCOPE
It is the policy of this Department to keep the community informed on matters of public interest. Most media inquiries are directed to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information. However, at the scene of a breaking news story, the media may request information from members of the service present at the scene. Information, assistance or access should be rendered to whatever extent possible, in accordance with the following procedure, when it does not: a. Pose an undue risk to the personal safety of members of the service,
media representatives, or others b. Interfere with police operations c. Adversely affect the rights of an accused or the investigation or
prosecution of a crime. Because it is not uncommon for local investigations, arrests, operations, etc., to overlap into other agencies, bureaus or jurisdictions it is essential that ALL media requests be channeled through the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information.
NOTE
Access to incident scenes does not extend to interior crime scenes or areas frozen for security reasons.
PROCEDURE
Upon receiving a request for information from representatives of the media at a breaking news story:
HIGHEST RANKING UNIFORMED MEMBER OF THE SERVICE
1. Confer with the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information, regarding the information to be released, prior to addressing the media.
2. Briefly describe the incident (i.e., how police were called to the scene, type of job, location of occurrence, number of aided persons, etc.).
3. Do not release the following: a. Identity of a child under sixteen years of age taken into custody,
unless child is a juvenile offender b. Identity of a complainant under sixteen years of age c. Identity of a neglected or abused child d. Identity of a victim of a sex crime e. Information which indicates that a person has a communicable disease f. Information which indicates that a person is a confidential
informant/witness g. The location of occurrence where a sexual assault occurred if that
location is the victim’s residence or the residence of the perpetrator, if not apprehended
h. The address or telephone number of a member of the service
PATROL GUIDE
Section: Command Operations Procedure No: 212-77
RELEASE OF INFORMATION TO NEWS MEDIA
DATE ISSUED: DATE EFFECTIVE: REVISION NUMBER: PAGE:
08/01/13 08/01/13 1 of 3
PATROL GUIDE PROCEDURE NUMBER: DATE EFFECTIVE: REVISION NUMBER: PAGE:
212-77 08/01/13 2 of 3
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
HIGHEST RANKING UNIFORMED MEMBER OF THE SERVICE (continued)
i. Address or telephone number of a complainant j. Address or telephone number of a witness to a crime k. Information that may hinder the prosecution of the crime, jeopardize
the safety of a member of the service, complainant, or witness. 4. Release the following information after an arrest is made, if requested:
a. Name, age, residence, employment, marital status and similar background information of the arrested person(s) after identity is confirmed
b. Substance or text of the charge(s) such as a complaint, indictment, information, and, only when appropriate, the identity of the complainant
c. Identity of the investigating and arresting agency and the length of the investigation
d. Circumstances immediately surrounding the arrest, including the time and place of arrest, resistance, pursuit, possession and use of weapons and a general description of items seized at the time of arrest.
NOTE
With the prior permission of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information, certain information may be withheld if there is a legitimate concern for the safety of a witness in the “interests of justice” (i.e., release of information may compromise an ongoing investigation). The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for consultation and/or response to incidents involving the media. Members of the service are required to immediately notify the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information of any interaction with the media.
ADDITIONAL DATA
The following information will be released only after conferral with the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information, and the Chief of Detectives. Pretrial disclosure of the following information may have an adverse impact on a court case: a. Statements concerning the reputation or character of an accused person or
prospective witness b. Performance of, or results of, tests or the refusal by the accused to take a test c. Statements concerning the credibility or anticipated testimony of prospective witnesses d. Opinions or speculation concerning evidence or argument in the case, whether
or not it is anticipated that such evidence or argument will be used at trial e. Photographs, films, videotapes, and/or mug shots. CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE VICTIM OF A SEX CRIME The Civil Rights Law, Section 50-B, was amended in 1991 to protect the identity of the victim of a sex crime. The law provides that the identity of a victim of a sex crime be provided to a defendant charged with the crime and their counsel or guardian. It also permits disclosure to public officers and employees investigating, prosecuting and keeping records relating to the offense. A new Section 50-C was also added to the law which allows victims of a sex offense to bring private action to recover for any damage suffered by the disclosure of their identities. Therefore, those members of the service (uniformed and civilian) assigned to units (Public Information Division, Identification Section, Communications Division, etc.) which may, at times, be called upon to provide information from Department records, files, tapes, etc., must ensure that the identity of a victim of a sex offense is not divulged when this information is released.
PATROL GUIDE PROCEDURE NUMBER: DATE EFFECTIVE: REVISION NUMBER: PAGE:
212-77 08/01/13 3 of 3
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
ADDITIONAL DATA (continued)
IDENTITY OF PERSONS WITH COMMUNICABLE DISEASE It is the responsibility of this Department to protect the civil rights of persons we come in contact with. This includes prisoners, crime victims, aided cases, etc. In keeping with this obligation, any information regarding a person’s status in connection with any communicable disease (HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, etc.) is to be treated as confidential. Accordingly, members of the service should be made aware of the following guidelines: Information concerning a prisoner’s or a victim’s affliction with a communicable disease must be kept confidential. This information generally should not be released to the public, the media, the person’s family and friends or to other prisoners. There may be unusual circumstances under which release of this information is warranted. Any such release, however, may only be made with the written consent of the Deputy Commissioner - Legal Matters. In some cases, prisoners may volunteer their positive medical status regarding a communicable disease indicating the need to be segregated from general prisoner population or the need for medical treatment. In such cases, isolation cells should be used, if available. This information may be recorded on a Prisoner Movement Slip or on form MEDICAL TREATMENT OF PRISONER (PD244-150) in order to alert personnel assigned to Corrections, District Attorney’s offices or courts. Members of the service who are exposed to a communicable disease should follow the provisions of P.G. 205-10, “Exposure Of Members Of The Service To Infectious Diseases”.
RELATED PROCEDURES
Information Concerning Official Business of the Department (P.G. 212-76) Incidents Involving Media Representatives (P.G. 212-49) Exposure Of Members Of The Service To Infectious Diseases (P.G. 205-10)
FORMS AND REPORTS
MEDICAL TREATMENT OF PRISONER (PD244-150)
1 of 4
1. In order to enhance the Department’s official use of social media, Operations Order 29, series
2013, has been revised. This revision announces that the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Strategic Initiatives will assist in ensuring the Department’s official social media usage conforms with the New York City Social Media Policy. Therefore, effective immediately, Operations Order 29, series 2013, “Use of Social Media by Members of the Service” is SUSPENDED and the following procedure will be complied with: OFFICIAL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA BY MEMBERS OF THE SERVICE
2. In April 2010, the Office of the Mayor published the “New York City Social Media
Policy” which provides overall guidance for the use of social media by City agencies. “Social media” is defined as online platforms that facilitate social networking, blogging and/or photo and video-sharing. Social media include proprietary social media sites or applications such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, MySpace, and Twitter, as well as collaboration services such as Wikipedia and Blogspot or any emergent social media platform or service. In order to ensure that the Department complies with the New York City Social Media Policy, the following guidelines have been established concerning the use of social media by members of the service.
3. All members of the service must be aware of and abide by the following:
a. No member of the service is authorized to post social media content on an official Department social media platform except those members specifically assigned to that task by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information and the Deputy Commissioner, Strategic Initiatives. All such social media usage will be clearly branded as official Department communication.
b. No Department social media site or application is to be created or maintained, except that which has been authorized by the Police Commissioner.
4. The Management Information Systems Division (MISD) has been designated as the point
of contact for the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) for operation of existing Department social media sites. MISD will register any social media outlets currently used by the Department with DoITT, as directed by the New York City Social Media Policy. MISD will also be responsible for the registration of any social media outlets the Department adopts in the future.
5. The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information and the Office of the Deputy
Commissioner, Strategic Initiatives will continue to be responsible for posting official content on the Department’s official social media sites and will ensure that the Department’s official social media usage conforms with the New York City Social Media Policy.
6. Common social media outlets to which this Order applies include, but are not limited to:
a. Social networking platform: A social networking platform allows users to create profiles online with status updates, photos, videos, messaging and other features and connect with other users (e.g., Facebook)
OPERATIONS ORDER
SUBJECT: USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA BY MEMBERS OF THE SERVICE
DATE ISSUED: NUMBER:
06-17-14 22
OPERATIONS ORDER NO. 22 Page 2 of 4
b. Blog: A blog is an online journal to which the host regularly posts material on which other users can comment; some blogs, such as “microblogs” limit entries to short, text-message-like entries (e.g., Twitter)
c. Video or image sharing outlet: A video or image sharing outlet is an online platform on which users can upload, share and view video clips or digital images (e.g., YouTube, Snapchat, or Instagram)
d. RSS feeds: An RSS feed is an online alert system that notifies subscribers to new content on a website
e. Podcast: A podcast is an audio file that has been published on the internet and that can be downloaded to a computer or a mobile listening device (e.g. “Inside the NYPD” podcast).
PERSONAL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA BY MEMBERS OF THE SERVICE 7. Members of the service utilizing personal social media sites are to exercise good judgment and
demonstrate the same degree of professionalism expected of them while performing their official duties. Members of the service should be aware that activities on personal social media sites may be used against them to undermine their credibility as members of the Department, interfere with official police business, compromise ongoing investigations and affect their employment status with the Department. Furthermore, information (including digital images) released on social media may endanger the safety of members of the service and/or their family members. Accordingly, members of the service will comply with the following:
a. All provisions of P.G. 203-10, “Public Contact - Prohibited Conduct” continue to apply to the use of social media
b. Members of the service are urged not to disclose or allude to their status as a member of the Department. Divulging identifying information on social media sites may endanger officer safety and may limit a member of the service’s eligibility for certain assignments. Members of the service who serve or seek to serve in an undercover capacity or work in highly sensitive assignments are particularly at risk
c. Because of the potential risks associated with the disclosure of one’s status as a member of the Department, members of the service are prohibited from revealing Department affiliations of other individuals (e.g., partners, co-workers, supervisors, etc.) without the express consent of that individual. These restrictions include, and are not limited to, the individual posting, “tagging” and/or “sharing” pictures of other members of the service
d. Members of the service are prohibited from posting photographs of themselves in uniform and/or displaying official identification, patches or badges, marked/unmarked vehicles on internet sites without authorization from the Department. These prohibitions will not apply to photographs taken at official Department ceremonies (e.g., promotions, awards, medal/citations, etc.). Members of the service will ensure that any photographs posted on social media sites pursuant to this exception must comply with the regulations set forth in subdivision “c”
e. Members of the service are prohibited from posting on the internet nonpublic items (e.g., witness statements, crime scene photographs, videos, etc.) that were gained as a result of their position with the Department
f. Members of the service are prohibited from using any Department email address in conjunction with social media, except as authorized by the Police Commissioner
OPERATIONS ORDER NO. 22 Page 3 of 4
g. Members of the service are prohibited from engaging in any type of social media contact with witnesses, crime victims or lawyers associated with a matter under investigation or pending in criminal court. Such communications may be deemed inappropriate or unethical and may jeopardize an ongoing investigation
h. Members of the service are prohibited from engaging in any type of social media contact (e.g., “friending,” “following,” etc.) with minors they interact with in the course of their employment with the Department. Such communications may be deemed inappropriate and create an appearance of impropriety. These restrictions do not bar such communication with relatives of the member of the service.
ADDITIONAL DATA RELATED PROCEDURES
DEPARTMENT POLICY This policy applies to both official use of social media and personal use of social media by members of the service. All members of the service are reminded that they are strictly accountable for their conduct at all times, whether on or off duty, inside or outside of New York City. Individual commands may only share/publish material on an official Department social media site facilitated/administered by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner Public Information. Commands may request posting of material on social media sites through the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information. Commands are prohibited from hosting their own individual sites. Members of the service are to be cognizant of their personal use of social media sites. Any activities or statements made on social media sites are done so in an online domain where users have no reasonable expectation of privacy. Even if a member of the service has created “private” or “limited access” accounts or has customized “privacy settings,” any statements, photographs, video clips or information which are sent over the internet may still be viewed and disseminated by third parties, even after the content has been edited or deleted by the user.
When assessing what activities may violate this Order, be guided by common sense standards of reasonableness.
Violations of this Order may subject members of the service to disciplinary action, including termination from the Department.
Members of the service currently hosting social media sites will immediately ensure that their personal social media site is reviewed and in compliance with the regulations set forth in this Order. Department Confidentiality Policy (P.G. 203-22) Information Concerning Official Business of Department (P.G. 212-76) Department Computer Systems (P.G. 219-14) Department Computer Use Policy and Monitoring Notice (A.G. 325-35) Performance on Duty – Prohibited Conduct (P.G. 203-06) Public Contact – General (P.G. 203-09) Appearances by Members of the Service Before Governmental Agencies or Private Organizations (P.G. 211-09) Use of Social Networks For Investigative Purposes – General Procedure (Operations Order 34, series 2012)
OPERATIONS ORDER NO. 22 Page 4 of 4
8. The guidelines set forth in this Order will not apply to social media outlets used for covert and/or investigative purposes.
9. Operations Order 29, series 2013, is hereby REVOKED.
10. Commanding officers will ensure that the contents of this Order are brought to the
attention of members of their commands. BY DIRECTION OF THE POLICE COMMISSIONER DISTRIBUTION All Commands
New York City Social Media Policy
Introduction
This policy, in conjunction with the existing New York City Acceptable Use Policy and agency
codes of conduct, provides overall guidance for agency use of social media. Individuals and
entities that participate in social media on behalf of the City are expected to abide by these
policies.
Social media/Web 2.0/new media tools are creative and interactive forms of internet-based
communication. Social media provide a platform for New York City to develop stronger and
more successful relationships with its customers. Social media provide agencies the ability to:
Promote agency programs and initiatives by engaging customers
Provide customers with an additional means to interact with the City
Complement and integrate with other agency communications tools and traditional
media for wider message distribution
Share information with niche audiences
Engage in national and regional discussions on relevant City issues
Social media platforms feature different display and content options and cater to
various needs that agencies and their customers may have. Three types of social
media sites are briefly described below:
Social Networking
Social networking platforms allow users to create individual profiles online
with status updates, photo albums, videos, messaging and other features.
Users can easily connect and communicate with those who have similar
interests and backgrounds across the site.
Blogging
Blogs are online journals updated regularly with textual, audio and/or video
entries. Blog hosting sites come in a variety of forms, including those that
limit entries to short, sentencelong status updates.
Photo and Video-sharing
These social media platforms allow users to post, share and comment on
user-contributed photographs and videos. Photo and video-sharing sites
can be used to spread service announcements as well as host contests and
competitions.
Official Use of Social Media
Agencies looking to explore and engage in social media should evaluate their
individual needs and goals as to when and how they engage customers. All official
agency social media sites must be registered with DOITT. The DOITT Social
Media Registration System will be hosted on CityShare, the City’s intranet, beginning
May 3, 2010. To access the registration system, visit
http://cityshare.nycnet/socialmediaregistry.
Agency Usage
Each person or group involved in an agency’s official social media effort must have a
clear understanding of the City’s social media policy. Additionally, agencies must
clearly define internal policies to complement the overall City policy. This internal
policy must include roles and responsibilities for any personnel involved in
communicating via social media, including affinity groups, vendors and volunteers,
and a process to ensure there is a consistent message across all media that the
agency uses for public communication, including social media. Training should be
provided for employees authorized to engage in social media and employees not
authorized to engage in social media should be warned of the consequences of
using social media.
Agency Policies and Procedures
Agencies should develop an organizational structure and social media policy
consistent with City-wide policies and approved by agency counsel that address the
following elements:
o Roles & responsibilities for staff members that create and manage the
agency’s social media presence including a protocol for responding to
complaints of dangerous conditions by referring those submitting complaints
over social media to nyc.gov/311 and complying with records retention
policies. Agency staff responsible for managing social media sites must be
trained on the use of social media and records management issues
presented by social media.
o Review and approval processes for social media messaging and content.
Online communication should be consistent with any information and advice
provided through other media and forums.
o Oversight of all social media sites developed within the agency (whether
developed internally or through a vendor or consultant).
o Clear protocol for personal posts and comments by non-social media
agency staff
o Consultant / Vendor / Contractor guidelines for use of social media.
o Internal process to address customer issues or complaints (if applicable).
Agency social media policies may depend on the nature and purpose of the
communication. Multiple divisions should be involved in developing each agency’s
social media policy, and its ongoing use; these divisions may include
communications, legal, press, technology and operations. One central contact should
be designated to oversee the agency’s social media program and to coordinate with
the Mayor’s Office and DOITT for policy updates.
Consultant / Vendor / Contractor Use of Social Media On Behalf of an Agency
Vendors or contractors hired by agencies to assist in developing agencies’ social
media presence must comply with all elements outlined in this policy and any other
additional internal policy that an agency may develop. In contracting out social media
related tasks, it is critical that the agency retains permanent ownership of the created
web pages. For legal review of the vendor contracts, please contact your agency’s
legal counsel.
Branding Social Media Accounts as Official City Sites
Agencies engaging in social media should clearly brand their websites as an official
government presence. It is important to represent the agency with a consistent
message across all forms of communication, including .gov sites and social media
platforms.
Certain official program initiatives may require the development of a non-branded
social media site. Agencies interested in launching issue-specific campaigns without
clear government association should contact their agency’s legal counsel.
Employees Using Social Media in Their Official Capacity
Agency personnel authorized to use social media for official City purposes may do so
on City time and using City resources. Personnel may be authorized to use social
media for many reasons, including(but not limited to) promoting an agency’s
message, engaging with other industry leaders, or participating on an agency’s social
media site as subject matter experts.
Personnel authorized to engage with customers via social media platforms as part of
their City work should comply with all City and agency guidelines while doing so, and
keep in mind that they are representing their agency and New York City at large with
every social media interaction.
For information on personal use of social media sites during work hours, please
check with your agency’s Acceptable Use Policy.
Legal Considerations
While there are many benefits to working with social media, there are some areas of
legal vulnerability that are unique to these forms of communication.
Content Posting and Sharing
As with other areas involving content use (e.g., websites, publications),
agencies must make sure that content, such as photographs and videos,
posted on City social media sites is either City-owned or that the material is
used under a proper license or permission from the original owner.
Reposting or “sharing” third party material via an article link or reference to
the original text or material does not require a release when the original
content is not actually reproduced.
Many social media platforms allow users to share and post their own
photos, videos and other creative content on fellow users’ account pages
and sites. Agencies cannot reproduce content posted to official City social
media pages by fans, followers and customers in other media without direct
permission from the original owner of the content unless the person posting
has clearly consented to reuse, editing or condensing of content at the time
the post is made.
Social media promote and facilitate the sharing of user content. Agencies
should work with their agency’s communication or press office in crafting
their social media message and strategy.
Privacy
As City social media sites grow in popularity and usage, issues of privacy
become paramount. Agencies (particularly those that handle sensitive or
protected information) need to be mindful of customers’ privacy and
identities. Agencies with fundamental privacy concerns (e.g. those serving
minors or managing health information) should consider their customers’
privacy before joining the various social media platforms disclosing
customer involvement. In addition,those agencies may choose to alert
customers that by affiliating with certain social media sites, they may be
openly associating themselves with the specific agency or City service.
Agencies posting material featuring identifiable private individuals and
children must get permission before publication. Releases or permissions
should be in writing or by an email authorization from the source confirming
that the City’s use is acceptable.
Terms of Service
When private individuals and organizations join social media sites, the sign-
on process almost always includes a Terms of Service (TOS) clause. New
members must agree to the individual site’s Terms of Service before they
are granted full-access privileges to the site. TOS clauses vary across
social media platforms; as such, agencies should carefully read the TOS of
each social media tool before developing its presence. For example, many
of the sites provide that the site’s operator is automatically provided with a
broad license to any posted material, that the user consents to choice of law
and venue in a remote jurisdiction and that the site’s operator has the right
to place advertising in close proximity to the user’s content. The Mayor’s
Office and Law Department are attempting to negotiate changes to these
types of provisions and will provide updates to agencies on this issue as
progress is made.
Moderating Customer Input
Social media users are most engaged on sites that provide and encourage
the exchange of information. These sites often provide users the ability to
voice their opinions and reactions to posted information. This may result in
comments or feedback from users that concern agency moderators or other
staff. An agency should not use this type of media if it is uncomfortable with
the idea of users posting negative or unsavory comments about itself, its
leaders, or its programs. In other words, if the agency is uncomfortable with
the level of exchange on a particular site, the site may not be appropriate
for that agency.
To keep track of incoming feedback and customer contributed content,
agencies should check their social media sites at least once a day. If a City
social media site is created under guidelines or policies that limit the site to
a particular topic (as opposed to general or all-purpose agency
communications), off-topic comments or contents may be deleted under the
guidance of agency counsel. Otherwise, agencies may not delete or
modify comments that are posted or otherwise sent or shared by
outside parties on their social media sites. For guidance on the narrow
exceptions(e.g., obscene comments, hate speech, solicitations and
comments that violate the Terms of Service of the host site), please contact
your agency’s legal counsel who will be able to consult with the Law
Department to determine an appropriate response.
Notice
The interactive nature of social media enables agencies to directly engage
customers. However, customers also have the ability to communicate with
agencies and may choose to report an issue, request a City service or seek
more information regarding a City program available to them over the
various social media sites. All customers submitting service requests
over social media must be clearly referred to nyc.gov/311. After
complaints or requests for services have been referred to 311 Online, they
should be removed from the social media site.
A request received through a social media site may also serve as official
legal notice for future lawsuits. For example, if a customer notifies the NYC
Department of Transportation about a pothole over a social media site and
another customer is subsequently injured by the same pothole, the
notification may potentially be used by the customer as part of a resulting
legal action.
Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)
Agencies should ensure that relevant staff are provided with guidelines and
training before posting any material to social media sites. Once information
has been posted, it may be considered an agency record subject to
applicable retention requirements and to the Freedom of Information Law
(FOIL), under which government records are made available upon request
to members of the public. Even if the communication, information, photo,
video, etc. is immediately removed from the host site, once it is has been
featured on a social media site, it still may be subject to record retention
requirements and to FOIL. The same would be true of third party comments
or materials posted on the agency’s social media sites. If a request for
government documents is posted on a social media site, the agency should
treat the request as a FOIL request. For further guidance on compliance,
consult with your agency’s Record Retention and Records Access officer.
Social Media Policy Revision
Before: Comments should be related to the posted topic for the City's social media
page or post. New York City agency social media accounts are not meant for
comments that do not directly relate to the purpose or topic of the social media
website or for service complaints. For general comments or communications
concerning an agency, please contact the agency's Commissioner on
www.NYC.gov. For complaints, please contact www.NYC.gov/311. After: Comments should be related to the posted topic for the City's social media
page or post. New York City agency social media accounts are not meant for
comments that do not directly relate to the purpose or topic of the social media
website or for service requests. For general comments or communications
concerning an agency, please contact the agency's Commissioner on
www.NYC.gov. For service requests, please contact www.NYC.gov/311.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/digital/html/smart/socialmediapolicy.shtml
TWITTER PHASE TWO
Appendix B
Contact Numbers for Questions and Concerns
Appendix B
Contacts List for Questions and Concerns
Chief of the Department 646-610-6710
Deputy Commissioner Strategic Initiatives 646-610-4057
Deputy Commissioner Information Technology 646-610-6873
Deputy Commissioner Legal Matters 646-610-5336
Legal Bureau 646-610-5400
Deputy Commissioner Training 646-610-4675
Community Affairs Bureau 646-610-5323
Detective Bureau 646-610-5430