srothstein wrote: ↑Sun Jul 08, 2018 12:32 pmThis is the very interesting debate that has been stirred in the LEO community over these videos. Some officers are saying it is good PR and helps them get in touch with the community. They see it as presenting a humanizing side of police so people will be less earful of them. Others see it as undignified and destroying the image of professionalism the police are supposed to be working on. The Abilene police chief even posted a comment on their facebook page forbidding his officers from participating because they have better things to devote their time to, such as crime fighting.Abraham wrote: ↑Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:08 am O.K., I'm just an old grump so I don't care to see the police trying to be entertaining especially given my loathing for entertainers expressing their generally commie views...
I want my LEO to just do their jobs with dignity is plenty good enough for me.
Now, get off my lawn!
I can see both sides of the issue. It does hurt the police professional image that they should be cultivating, but at the same time it is helping them relate to the community and get support. I come down on allowing those who so desire to make the video, but it better be when they are having a slow day. The police need all the good community relations they can get right now, and they really need to stop being their own worst enemy in PR. Being professional would certainly help them, especially in communications with the community.
Many of the ones I have seen had a disclaimer saying that the officers filmed the video when they were not on duty.