| Facebook - the career killer |
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| Written by APB Staff |
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No matter how often you tell people that there is no such thing as privacy on the Internet, some people refuse to believe that their Facebook account is not actually “secure” from the prying eyes of bosses, marketers, and almost everyone else. The belief in the myth of cyber-privacy recently cost a cop in Sandy Springs, Georgia his job. Now former Sgt. O.J. Concepcion says he wants his job back after he was fired, allegedly for comments he posted on his Facebook page. Concepcion says he was fired for posting an “anti-back-stabbing cartoon” that somehow wound up in the wrong officer’s mailbox. “My Facebook is set on private and the public cannot read it,” Concepcion told reporters with WSBTV News. When Channel 2 Action News reporter Mark Winne asked how many friends can view his Facebook profile, Concepcion ball-parked the number at around 300 “friends.” The former sergeant admitted to posting a “status update” that said the following: “Orlando J Concepcion is: working with the FBI this week... I smell a million-dollar drug seizure coming our way soon.” When reporters asked if he believed such a post might endanger other law enforcement personnel, Concepcion said he didn’t think that was likely and he was just so excited to be working with the feds he wanted to let everyone know. “I just love what I do. I was so excited just being a part of the FBI task force.” The terminated officer also acknowledged another Facebook posting another day suggesting authorities would be raiding an area between two specific streets. When reporters asked again if he believed he was endangering anyone by posting sensitive law enforcement information on Facebook, he again said no. “I want his job back, I want his name cleared, and I don’t want officers to go through this,” said Mike Puglise, Concepcion’s lawyer. Concepcion said he is being singled out and plans to file a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and possibly a lawsuit. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites          Comments (3)
  written by don moore, February 17, 2010
Wow, giving out information to 300 friends who probably pass it on is not endangering other officers? This guy does not need to be wearing a badge. He's so excited to be working on the FBI task force???? One of the stipulations is to keep operational security, in other words, keep your big mouth shut. He leaked info of a confidential nature, simply put, too bad so sad.
 written by Marc, February 25, 2010
If everyone in LE was smart they would stay off of Facebook or MySpace. There is nothing important enough on there that is worth your job or family. Pick up a phone, send a text, send an email and meet in person.
 written by Kops Korner, March 19, 2010
I understand that having to live a certain restricted lifestyle can be difficult for some law enforcement officers, especially if they were otherwise very socialable individuals prior to joining the force. One may want to join such networks, but it is always best to check with their department before hand.
Some agencies have a department page on either Myspace or Facebook, in which case they use these sites to post "wanted" and "pedophile" info, as well as updates for the community they serve. I would agree that sensitive job related info should not appear on the personal page of a law enforcement officer. I'm not sure if I would agree with the extreme disciplinary actions of taking away one's job, but if the officer deliberately disobeyed known company policy of revealing such info with the understanding that termination would be a possibility, then firing him/her would be understandable and there wouldn't be much else to say. Write comment
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