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Public commenters press Kechi council on police Facebook posts; chief defends tactics
Summary
Public commenters told the Kechi City Council that some police Facebook posts can undermine cases and erode trust. Police Chief defended using humor and suspect photos as outreach tools, citing engagement metrics and enforcement results.
Residents raised concerns during the public comment period that the Kechi Police Department's social media posts could undermine investigations and erode public confidence. A commenter asked whether the city has a formal social media policy and urged council review of what officers post online.
Police Chief responded that the department will continue to use a mix of information and humor because it increases community engagement and awareness. "I will continue to use humor to do so. Why? Because it gets shared," the chief said, noting the department's follower and engagement statistics and saying that sharing suspect photos aids investigations. The chief added that the department had increased calls for service and made local drug-related arrests tied to enforcement activity publicized on social media.
The exchange grew heated when the chief pushed back at critics for invoking a fallen officer's family, detailing personal contacts with the family and saying such references were inappropriate in public critiques. Council members said staff is reviewing a social media policy; a staff-drafted policy was reported to be under review and expected to come to council for consideration.
