Facebook continues to morph into the most massive social networking site known to man. As of a few days ago according to Facebook Statistics there are now over 500 million user accounts on this social networking monster. The amount of people on this site and the time people are participating (700 billion minutes monthly) on this site are phenomenal. Law enforcement as well as other business models have a huge opportunity to communicate with shareholders and constituents in this flourishing communication platform. A recent article by Muhammad Saleem on Mashable shows the number of Facebook users in the US and major US cities.

US Law enforcement agencies in particular have a huge opportunity to engage with their constituents. As you can see below New York has almost 4 million Facebook users Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston have approximately half their populations using Facebook and Philadelphia has approximately 100% of their population using Facebook.

Based on my experience in police work I personally see a huge value add in engagement with Facebook users by law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies have the opportunity to communicate their mission, crime prevention information, crimes in progress, wanted person information and the like for free on Facebook. The startling numbers of users on Facebook in Philadelphia alone would cause me as a detective to use Facebook as a location to potentially cultivate leads on criminal cases. The Facebook numbers are growing, at the time Muhammad Saleem developed the above graphics for Mashasble the Facebook population was just over 400 million. The numbers above are surely higher now and show no sign of slowing down.

Law enforcement agencies need to do more than set up a Facebook fan page, they need to engage and grow a community using their Facebook fan page. Law enforcement has a huge opportunity to engage people where they spend time and right now in the US it appears almost half the population is spending large amounts of time on Facebook. MV

Two days ago I attended the joint funeral of David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab, Tampa Police officer’s gunned down in the line of duty on 06/29/10. This is not the first joint double Tampa police officers’s funeral I have been two, but I hope it is my last. In 05/1998 I attended the funeral of Randy Bell and Ricky Childers who were also gunned down in the line of duty. I have never forgotten that funeral and I will never forget the Kocab/Curtis funeral. I knew and worked with Randy Bell, but did not know Ricky Childers other than his reputation, which was stellar. I also did not know Jeff or David, but after yesterday’s funeral I felt as I could have been one of them and “there before the grace of God go I.”

Both Jeff and David were exceptional police officers who died valiantly at the hands of a monster. The monster who would later give himself up was wanted for at least one other homicide, but may also have been connected to as many as three other homicides. One has to wonder what goes through an individual’s mind to decide that taking the life of not 1 but 2 police officers to evade arrest only to turn oneself in a few days later. Apparently not much! Not remorse, not compassion, not hope, surely just plain lack of conscience. The rest of us rational thinking people wonder to ourselves that if only he gave up and went to jail. He would have been charged with fewer crimes and there would be two families who would not be forever crushed by the loss of two good men. But that is not how it played out and now the aftermath for the families, TPD, and the community.

As I sat through the funeral with my family a flood of thoughts raced through my mind. As I looked across the sanctuary at Idlewild Church I saw thousands of law enforcement officers supporting the families, TPD, and law enforcement in general. There is no other profession that seems to bind individuals together more than law enforcement. Probably because the culture and brotherhood that is developed by individuals who choose this type of career. People asked me why did you go to the funeral, did you know them? No, I did not know Dave and Jeff, but really I did know Dave and Jeff. I know that Dave and Jeff like all other law enforcement officers are not just tough guys/gals with a badge. They are two guys that choose to make a difference in this world by the profession they choose, law enforcement. They got up went to work even though they knew the dangers of the job like the rest of us. They did not dwell on the danger or they would have been unable to cope with the tasks at hand. They did their job as they were trained. Don’t think for a second that lack of training or error on their part led to their deaths. Sometimes evil wins a battle. But in the end justice prevails, although bruised. There is no police training that can cover all dangerous situations police encounter. Things happen fast on the street and decisions are made by both bad guys and good guys that forever change lives. Jeff and David were two brave guys who loved what they did and were very good at doing it. They did their job on 06/29/10 and did it well. They ultimately should get credit for the arrest of the monster who killed them because it was their original attempted arrest that set a chain of events in motion that would take an unidentified serial killer off the streets of Tampa.

The families that have become fatherless, husbandless, childless as a result of this horrible tragedy will be healing for a long time to come. They will need the support to fill the void left by the loss of their love one’s. All of us can help these families and it is our job as a community to help them. Please, if you feel compelled donate to the Kocab/Curtis fund at Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union just follow this link: http://tampabayfcu.org/

I had the opportunity to attend the WIRED Business Conference, Disruptive by Design, on Monday 06/14/10 as a guest of Altegrity Risk International (ARI) Chairman Bill Bratton. He was one of the featured speakers at this conference. WIRED magazine is one of the most respected technological magazines of all time, and is touted as the first truly on-line international publication. Naturally, they are a good fit to oversee a conference focusing on the disruption of current and trending technologies.

Bill Bratton did a live interview during the conference… live in the fact that it was posted and sent out to all of WIRED’s subscriber and partner networks. As one of the nation’s most renowned law enforcement leaders, due to his success in both NYC and LA where he served as police commissioner and chief of police respectively, Bill Bratton was a natural choice for a conference of this kind. The main reason? A great deal of his success was due to crime busting system he pioneered called CompStat. CompStat is an analytical solution that provides real-time intelligence to law enforcement personnel in the field, and in the patrol car, so they can attack hot spots of criminal activity. As Chief Bratton explained how he used “push-pins” and “transparent charts” in CompStat’s early days a hush fell over the tech savvy crowd. Bratton then detailed how in the early 90’s he began to use a top-of-the-line computer for the day, which he purchased from Radio Shack. It was a Commodore 640. This drew applause from the audience and marked Bill as “one of those pioneers of the good old days.”

The method of attacking little crimes in neighborhoods is one of the CompStat systems key components and a big reason for the success of this law enforcement, crime busting ideals. During the interview with Chief Bratton, WIRED contributing editor Noah Shachtman, who also works at the Brookings Institution, kept prodding Bill with questions about the authenticity of the data surrounding CompStat. Shachtman directly asked the Chief how he could be certain the data was not being manipulated. Bratton, hesitated for just a second then replied that they “killed anyone who manipulated the data.” The auditorium erupted in applause and laughter, an outburst from the audience that had not been seen or heard at the conference.

Bill Bratton did an excellent job of demonstrating how “old school” police work with an analytical and accountable system better known as CompStat has effectively reduced crime. One of the best compliments Chief Bratton received was from WIRED Senior Editor Jason Tanz, who sat next to me during Bratton’s interview. Tanz at one point mentioned to me “this guy is great.”

What exactly is considered private when it comes to social media and social networking? Since becoming involved in social media about a year and a half ago I have been a little astonished at what people share about themselves. MySpace has been the social networking website where both men and woman pushed the limits on how much skin is showed in uploaded pic’s. Seems like Facebook has surpassed MySpace with lack of clothing pic’s due to the shear number of users 465,564,340 (via http://www.checkfacebook.com/) and the numerous men and women in their undies, bikinis, or less.

I am not a prude and am not against girl’s in bikinis (not into guys in underwear), but there seems to be a lack of modesty and forethought when it comes to information (pics, videos, crazy status updates) being placed on social networking sites. Once information is placed on the web, you should assume it will live on the web forever, yes forever. People can save any images or text with a simple right click of a mouse and don’t assume because your privacy settings are set on Facebook or other social networking sites that any of your risque information won’t show up on the web (so called friends can share your information).

Another security/privacy issue to be considered while participating in social media/social networking is GPS location services. Foursquare, Twitter, Facebook, and most other social networking sites allow you to provide your GPS location. As a retired police officer I do not think this is the best of ideas for personal security reasons. There are websites like pleaserobme.com that are placing your GPS locations on their website once caught off the web from status updates along with the fact that you are not home encouraging criminal activity or at your residence i.e: burglary because you are most likely not at home.

Below are 5 common sense tips on how to prevent from unwanted privacy intrusions:

1) Don’t share naked pictures of yourself unless you are ready for the consequences – Hmm, what will my parents or kids think?
2) Don’t put anything into a status update you don’t want recirculated on the web – My boss John Doe is a #$%^.
3) Ladies turn off your GPS notifications from all social networking sites so you are not advertising that you are alone at a bar at 2am – There are creepers on the web you know.
4) Don’t always trust a picture of an individual on a social networking site because they are attractive – Things are not always as they appear.
5) Don’t list your cell phone number on Twitter, Facebook, or any other social networking website if you don’t want your privacy invaded – Ladies really, weirdos will call you.

As social media continues to change our culture our definition of privacy seems to also be changing. What was private 5 years ago is now a profile picture on Facebook or a status update on Twitter that potentially millions of people can see. I am not throwing rocks from my glass house as I have violated my own common sense rules a time or two, but consider your privacy current or future when participating in social media and social networking sites. Mike Vallez

I love to read a news article on the web that highlights a law enforcement agency that is using social media and being successful at it. Some may say social media success for law enforcement has to be measured by arrests, crimes prevented or some numerical value. However, successful use of social media for law enforcement is more of a “loss leader.” If an agency broadens their audience, informs their constituents, and yes ultimately prevents crime then they should consider social media a valuable communication tool. One such agency that is rocking social media is the Kentucky State Police.

The Kentucky State Police are using social media and have found success in doing so. Unlike most law enforcement agencies someone at the Kentucky State Police found value in communicating through social media. They have a successful Facebook fan page which has just about 17,000 people who like it (including me). They post everything from crime prevention tips, wanted people pic’s, criminal activity information, and more to their Facebook Fan Page. The Kentucky State Police also use Twitter to push out their message. A quick check of their website shows that the Kentucky State police prominently display their Facebook fan page feed and Twitter link for web users to follow them on those social networking sites.

While law enforcement is still finding out how to implement social media some agencies such as the Kentucky State Police have realized the value in communicating through social networking websites. Hopefully, over the next year law enforcement will realize the low cost big messaging benefit that is possible by using social media. Mike Vallez

Law enforcement has basically been at the mercy of the news media. Whether issuing press releases, responding to a high profile case, or requesting help from citizens in a missing person case the police were (are) at the behest of the media to communicate there message.

Social media offers alternative options for law enforcement agencies to take control of their communication and messaging. Facebook fan pages, Twitter, blogs, iPhone apps, podcasting, YouTube, are just a few social media channels that allow law enforcement to call the shots on their messaging. There is a shift in control when law enforcement can offensively deploy a press release to Twitter or Facebook for the general public, which includes the press agencies. Press conferences can be pre-determined through simple video podcasting efforts with editing prior to release and posting to agencies websites, blogs, or YouTube for release to the world wide web. Best of all these communications options are very inexpensive.

The premise is law enforcement no longer has to rely on the media for press coverage. They can take control of their messaging and reach a larger audience. One law enforcement agency that has taken the leap by issuing press release through social media sites only is the Boca Raton Police Department. The media responded to the Boca Raton PD by running a mostly negative news spot, but they have now become use to obtaining press releases through Facebook and Twitter.

Social media offers law enforcement alternatives on getting their message out, which will allow them to control investigations better, keep better public relations, and so on. Mike Vallez

While reading some of my latest Google Alert’s I cam across a blog post by David Etue of FederalComputerWeek.com. The article titled “Mitigation, not prohibition, is best response to social media’s security risks” provides an excellent argument why organizations such as law enforcement agencies need to get into the conversation. Etue does a great job of identifying both the pitfalls and benefits to using social media. Yes, there are pitfalls to using social media, specifically if a social media plan is implemented “willy-nilly” without planning or expert advice. But there are also many benefits to using social media such as communicating with large groups of people, such as constituents.

Currently law enforcement is in the “wait and see” mode to see if social media/new media and social networking actually continue their exponential growth. By the time law enforcement gets on the bandwagon in may be too late! But it is not too late now to get involved and use social media/new media and social networking as another communications tool. Some specific law enforcement benefits from using social media are:

• Better control of your message and brand

• Community outreach

• Community policing

• Criminal investigations

• Crime prevention

• And more

David Etue has given four basics that should be included when an agency or organization wants to enter the social media realm.

1) Codes of conduct
2) Training
3) Official profiles
4) Controls

These basic steps are not complicated and are rather easy to implement when forming a social media plan. Actually, this article is a great first step to embrace with mitigation than to try to ban social media. Because banning social media will not work. Mike Vallez

There seems to be a reluctance of law enforcement in a general sense to become involved in social media. Whether it is lack of education, funds, or knowledge law enforcement is fast being left behind by criminals who are adapting to social media. An example, Flash Mobs became a problem in Philadelphia this past March that caused the Philadelphia P.D. to reach out to the F.B.I. for help monitoring social networks as a tool to help reduce the crimes stemming from these “socially induced” flash mobs. Flash mobs are not new and originally started out as youth meet ups that are coordinated through social networking sites or text messages. The Philadelphia P.D. has a better social media platform than most law enforcement agencies, but they needed more.

The more needed is a “social media” strategy to consider law enforcement and social media. What does that mean? Criminals are not waiting to see if social media/social networking sites are useful for their criminal activities. Criminals are adapting and taking advantage of social networking sites and converting their activities on these sites to offline cash or victims. Criminals are also learning how to communicate through social networking sites to become more efficient at criminal activities. For the most part law enforcement agencies are not involved in social media/social networking sites and if they are involved it is a half hearted campaign. Law enforcement needs to bear a presence in social networking and get comfortable to prevent being left behind in the cultural communication change that is occurring.

Law enforcement should consider a social media strategy to bolt onto their current communications plan. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Basically you use social media as another tool to help communicate your message and listen to what is going on around you. By the way, most social networks are FREE and the only cost is the labor that it takes to be involved. Social media/social networks have created new media and tools that are quickly developing that are able to provide localized information for law enforcement to use as intelligence. If I were a chief I would be fully immersed in determining how social media, social networking, new media could further my agencies communication and where this communication is heading, which is mobile. Let me give you a scenario that is not too far off.

In the near future mobile devices will easily be able to capture and edit video within a few seconds of the capture (already can). Next this video can be uploaded to YouTube or other video social networks becoming available to the world within maybe 5 minutes of an incident. The editing part is what law enforcement should be considering. What happens when a video is derogatorily edited, with voice clips of racial slurs, etc placed into a video of an officer lawfully performing their duty? What happens is the potential for public outcry that could lead to a riot before slow reacting law enforcement figures out what happened. Law Enforcement should consider becoming involved in social media and not because everyone else is, but use it for the tool it is, the criminals are. Mike Vallez

It was a great honor to speak at the 1st annual SMILE conference a little over a week ago in Washington DC. I was fortunate to meet a bunch of folks who I have met on Twitter, but had never met in person. I would also like to thank Lauri Stevens from ConnectedCops.net for organizing and running an excellent social media law enforcement conference. If you were unable to make it to the event here is a brief run down of Thursday 04/08/10 presentations.

The morning started off with Jack Holt from the DOD discussing how this organization is reacting to the changes in communication that is occurring via the internet. Social media networking sites, blogging, real time information and how the leaders at the DOD are dealing with this new media. The next set of presentations was a tag team effort by Chief Alexander of Boca Raton PD and his PIO Mark Economou. They discussed together “building a brand” as a law enforcement agency and how the Boca PD is adapting to the new media change. It was definitely enlightening to hear how their department has adapted to the new media changes. One specific example is how they only distribute press releases via Twitter or Facebook. They have conditioned the “media” to adapt as well and there has to be some satisfaction on being able to better control your communications plan. The morning came to an end with my presentation on podcasting. This was a 101 level presentation to explain what “podcasting” is and how easy it is to actually do. Podcasting is a digital media file (audio or vide) that can be subscribed to, but ultimately is downloaded from the web. A podcast is extremely easy to share because it ends up as a URL, which can be Tweeted, sent out as a status update, or emailed, etc. Mike Bostic, former LAPD Deputy Chief with Raytheon and Matthew Le Veque of the Rogers Group discussed social media and systems integration, which frankly is mind blowing. Sgt Tim Burrows from the Toronoto PD had a great chat about maximizing social media results with the minimal tools at hand, ain’t that the truth. The most interesting, yet scary presentation was from Peter Berghammer who discussed “hacking” attacks and how to deal with them. The day wrapped up with our European friends Mike Alderson, Marga van Rijssel, and Gordon Scobbie all discussing various efforts they are making in social media across the pond.

The evening “town hall” style conversation MC’d by Mark Economou (excellent job) was a fantastic conversation regarding social media in law enforcement and social media and national security issues. Thought such as, “what happens if power goes down, cell tower connectivity goes down, or you are hacked beyond immediate repair, huh? These questions are tough to answer and as Jack Holt eloquently stated “we have a of a lot of duplicate technologies, but not a lot of resilient technologies.” Social media and new media are changing the way people become informed so much so that in the near future you will probably see law enforcement officers wearing camera’s as part of their normal duty gear to protect against altered video from a citizen. Scary, but reality. MV

The US Department of State has jumped into Facebook amid a growing number of federal agencies that are doing the same. Other federal agencies involved in social media are the National Security Agency, US Army, US Navy, US Coast Guard, The White House, and many others. The federal government is clearly becoming a leader in communicating their message through “social networking” sites. But is the federal government setting the standard on how to be involved in “social media?” How about from a national security perspective? There are not a lot of private national security companies for obvious reasons. However, law enforcement is in the business of national security particularly post 09/11. So why is law enforcement so slow to respond to the obvious?

The obvious is that social networking sites offer law enforcement a new way to communicate to their consumers, constituents, and others. The “others” category is a group of people who transcend the the geographical area of a law enforcement agency and consist of web users, the world wide web. Typically law enforcement only communicated to their local citizens by television, news paper, or radio, which was geographically limiting. The web allows for a much broader audience even an international audience. Additionally, it must be assumed that a certain percentage of a law enforcement agencies local constituents are also involved in social networking sites. But, why would a law enforcement agency care to broadcast information to anyone other than their local citizens?

Because prior to the “blow up” of social networking sites in the last few years the web was primarily a reference tool to gather information and was not used as much for “social” online communication. The change in culture that has occurred is epic and is not a fade. People are consuming news from Facebook, Twitter, Digg, and other websites that were not typical news outlets, but are now. We all can agree that how people are accessing information has changed. A quick stat that supports this, “more than 5 billion pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photo albums, etc.) shared each week” on Facebook (Facebook Statistics). It is no wonder the federal government is getting on board with social media. By setting up communication channels on social networking sites they are to reaching out to a growing number of people who are gathering information from places like Facebook and Twitter and not from newspapers or television.

Hopefully law enforcement will see the value in getting their message out through social networking sites. Be it a press release, wanted person information, missing person information, crime prevention information and so on. The US government has invested in communication through social networking sites, specifically from a national security perspective maybe law enforcement will take this cue and get involved as well. Just to be fair, not each and every law enforcement agency is oblivious to using social networking sites. There are some using social networking sites to further their communication, however, in general law enforcement has not overwhelmingly jumped into the conversation just yet. Mike Vallez