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Salinas resident says officer’s pro‑ICE posts erode trust; committee seeks follow-up
Summary
During public comment, an unidentified Salinas resident said a police officer’s public pro-ICE social media posts have made immigrant families fear seeking help; the commenter urged clearer expectations for employee social-media conduct and asked how press releases and official channels reach the community.
An unidentified resident told the Salinas Community Advisory Committee that immigrant families in the city feel frightened after seeing a Salinas Police Department officer publicly post pro‑ICE views online.
"I saw a Salinas police department officer post on social media saying he agreed what the federal officers did and that he would have done the same," the resident said, adding that such public posts raise questions about whether people will be treated fairly when they call for help. The speaker described fear in the community and urged the committee to clarify expectations for employee conduct on social media.
The resident asked: what are the expectations for city employees, particularly law enforcement, when it comes to social media; where is the line between personal views and professional responsibility; and how does the department ensure community members are not targeted? The committee did not take an immediate disciplinary or policy action during the meeting; staff acknowledged the concerns and said follow-up would be appropriate.
Separately, a member of the public asked how the police department issues press releases, who approves them and whether the department maintains regularly updated social channels such as Facebook and Instagram that reach different community audiences. Staff confirmed these questions will be addressed in follow-up and encouraged attendance at an upcoming AB 481 community meeting scheduled for Feb. 25.
The resident’s allegations were presented as a public concern; the committee treated the matter as a topic for follow-up rather than an immediate adjudicated claim on the record.
