[ Administration ]  [ Personnel ]  [ General Operations ]  [ Field Operations ]  [ Criminal Investigations ]  [ Support Operations ]  [ Special Orders ]  [ Command Memo ]  [ Library ]  [ Search ]  [ Home ]

Applicable To:  All employees

Approval Authority:  Chief Richard J. Pennington

Signature:  Signed by RJP

Date Signed:  6/15/2004

1.               PURPOSE

This directive establishes policies and procedures for information being placed on the Horizon Intranet website and the Atlanta Police Department Internet website.

2.               POLICY

2.1              The Atlanta Police Department will use both the Intranet and Internet website as a mean of sharing information while staying within the constraints of official business.

2.2              Information on the Intranet and Internet websites will be timely, accurate, up-to-date and Department related.

2.3              The Horizon intranet is authorized for access only to Department employees and will be accessible only from computers on the Department’s network.  The intranet is not completely secure from unauthorized access, material on the intranet may be subject to open records requirements. 
 

2.4              The Atlanta Police Department Internet website (www.Atlantapd.org) is for public use. Data used on this website must be approved for public viewing.

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1              The Chief of Staff will designate a Webmaster and Information Officers for each division and section.

3.2              The Public Affairs Supervisor and the Webmaster will determine whether additional Information Officers will have access to publish information to the website.

3.3              The Departmental Webmaster will coordinate the development, management, maintenance of the Departmental websites and monitor content on the intranet and Internet, reviewing for compliance with this directive.

3.4              The Information Officers are responsible for website information specific to their section.

4.               ACTION

4.1              General

4.1.1           All information that was prepared for another purpose and will be posted to the website must follow the guidelines set forth in this directive. 

4.1.2           All internal and external links must be verified prior to being published to the website.

4.2              Personal information such as home telephone number or address, personally-owned cellular telephone or pager number, DOB, social security number, etc, will not be published.

4.3              Actual phone numbers of personnel in a command will not be published.  The Personnel Section may provide overall numbers for the Department.

4.4              Crime Statistics and Investigations

4.4.1           Authorized information that may be posted:

1.    Official Uniform Crime Report data

2.    Management data crime maps

3.    Wanted persons and notification of arrests of wanted persons

4.    Missing persons and notification when missing persons are located

5.    Suspect and vehicle lookouts

6.    Information on rewards

4.4.2           Information requiring approval by the Chief of Police prior to posting:

1.    Neighborhood-level crime data other than online crime maps

2.    Demographic data on crime or arrests

3.    Information on open investigations other than specified in 4.3.1, particularly any information that could hinder an investigation or prosecution

4.    Information received from other law enforcement agencies, GCIC, or NCIC

5.    Official crime scene photographs

6.    The identity or location of victims of sex offenses, in particular rape or attempted rape.

7.    Any information concerning the identity of individuals under the age of 17 who are taken into custody.

8.    The prior criminal record, character, or reputation of a suspect.

9.    Any opinion of a Department employee regarding the guilt or innocence of a suspect.

10.  Any opinion of a Department employee regarding the merits of a case or quality of evidence gathered.

11.  The existence of any confession, admission of guilt, or statement made by the accused or the failure or refusal by the accused to make a statement.

12.  The identity, testimony or credibility of any prospective witness.

5.               DEFINITIONS

5.1              Information Officer: a person who assists with the Department webmaster to post information on the Department websites.

5.2              Internet: An interconnected system of networks that connects computers around the world via the TCP/IP protocol.

5.3              Intranet:  an electronic communications network that connects computers or computer networks.  Like the Internet, but having access restricted to a limited group of authorized users (such as employees of a company).

5.4              Webmaster:  a person responsible for the creation or maintenance of a World Wide Web site, especially for a company or organization.  The World Wide Web is a part of the Internet designed to allow easier navigation of the network through the use of graphical user interfaces and hypertext links between different addresses.

5.5              Web site:  one or more Internet or intranet addresses at which an individual or organization provides information to others often including links to other locations where related information may be found.

6.               CANCELLATIONS

APD.SOP.5.26 “Intranet Content”
     

7.               REFERENCES

APD.SOP.6053 “Internet and Electronic Mail”