Police launch informational Facebook page; trustees discuss village social media and web hosting

The Hampton Hills Police Department has created an informational Facebook page and is posting non‑interactive content to reach residents beyond traditional alert systems. Chief (identifying the office as police staff) told trustees the department "implemented a Facebook page for the police department about a week and a half ago" and that the page is configured so users cannot comment.

Chief said the department limited the account to informational posts — road closures, lost animals and event notices — and keeps comments disabled to avoid moderating public discussion and potential liability. "We do not allow comments on our Facebook," the chief said, adding the department plans to remove posts when situations are resolved so the public has current information.

Trustees and staff discussed the village web hosting contract, a pending migration to an integrated platform, and how social media can reach a broader audience than the village’s existing Community Counts alerts. Trustee Berson urged the village to authorize a village Facebook page consistent with the social media policy and noted that posts can be shared beyond Community Counts. "If you actually want the information to advance through the community, then you put it on some type of social media where it's shareable," Berson said.

Trustee Muir suggested adding Instagram and configuring cross‑posts so a single message posts to both platforms; the chief agreed to investigate whether cross‑posting could preserve the no‑comment setting. Staff said a hosting renewal and migration plan are in process and that the tech committee is evaluating integrated municipal platforms for hosting and content management. The village’s social media policy already authorizes department accounts, a staff member noted, and trustees indicated they would prepare any procedural authorization or resolution needed to formalize village accounts.

What’s next: Chief will check technical options for cross‑posting without enabling comments and staff will return with a proposed resolution or formal notice to authorize village department and village accounts under the existing social media policy.