Recently, a problem developed in my department, and administrative steps were being taken to remedy the situation, but not fast enough for a few of our members. The next thing you know, news cameras show up at one of my fire stations and the story runs on the local evening news. Twenty-five years ago this would have been the end of the story, but in today’s world of 24-hour news cycles, blogging, Twitter, etc., the story grew.
Despite the fact that we explained everything in an open and factual manner, members of my command staff, the mayor and I were personally attacked online, including on one of the news site’s blogs. I learned long ago to never read the comments following news stories on the Internet. Seldom does anyone go there to say anything positive, and one person with 10 different screen names can make it appear like the whole world is against you. Tip: If you do read them, never leave a comment in anger because some anonymous “FireFighter123” will come back at you even harder; you end up playing their game.
As an officer, it’s important to understand that criticism, wherever it comes from, warranted or not, comes with the territory, and the higher your rank, the harsher and more pervasive it can be. The important thing to remember is to be honest when making decisions and public remarks and always do so with the citizens’ and department members’ best interest at heart. Do this and no matter what is spoken, printed or blogged, you’ll be able to sleep at night.
Minimizing the Damage
But how do you minimize the gossip and untruths written about you or your decisions in a virtual world? The best way to clear up misinformation is to offer factual information. Be proactive by making sure your door is always open and you’re available by phone. Assure your subordinates that if something is bothering them, they should feel comfortable bringing it to your attention.
In the case of this news story, the comments were so erroneous and maliciously untrue, I felt compelled to provide a written correspondence to the department addressing some of the remarks. Between my actions and other officers getting the correct message out, we were able to calm this particular cyber-storm.
For today’s officers, knowledge of virtual technologies and the problems they can present is critical. One major problem: As cyber technology grows, so does its intrusions into our professional and personal lives. There are other issues involving this constantly changing dynamic that as an officer you need to be keenly aware of:
- Cyber bullying and slander: The virtual world allows cowards to create fictitious identities and verbally attack others to the point of criminal harassment. In the fire department, a member can be the target of virtual bullying, or they can be doing the bullying themselves, harassing a family member, an ex or a coworker. State and federal laws apply to such harassment, so you must report it immediately through your chain of command.
- Social networking: This is a growing problem in all workplaces. A recent report I heard on NPR indicated that checking Facebook and other social sites may be interfering with up to 20% of actual work time. Departments must create and enforce social networking policies, and it needs to be clear that firefighters are held to the same level of conduct both on and off duty, which includes the posting of comments and photos to the Internet.
- Internet pornography at the fire stations: Be sure that your department has a policy expressly prohibiting any pornography at the fire station. Additionally, the destructive effects of pornography addictions have increased since the advent of the Internet. Familiarize yourself with the employee support services that are available if a member wants help with this problem.
Today’s fire service is producing a more effective and efficient model than any other time in our history, and computers and the Internet are a big part of that. However, there is a dark side to this technology, and if departments and officers are not conscious of and responsive to its negative effects, it can result in significant damage–organizationally, professionally and personally.
