Seattle police officers have been put on notice: Be careful what you post on social media.
Twice within the past week, Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole has put officers on paid leave after inflammatory comments appeared under their names on Facebook and Twitter.
The latest action was announced in a departmentwide email Friday night, only hours after the disclosure of tweets in which a veteran officer ranted about race, gays, President Obama and other subjects, the Seattle Times reports.
O'Toole's orders signal that the former Boston police commissioner will move swiftly when she sees behavior that threatens the federally mandated reform effort she inherited when she became Seattle's chief in June. The department is under a court-ordered consent decree to curb excessive force and biased policing.
"I am particularly disappointed by these incidents because they undermine community trust, the reputation of the SPD and the outstanding work of many professional, hardworking officers," O'Toole said in the Friday night email. "I will continue to take decisive action against this type of behavior. I expect all SPD members to demonstrate professionalism, common sense and good judgment."
