January 19, 2012
To: All ENFD CERT Teams
From: Director Bishop
Ref: Social Media outlets and Photographs
Team Leaders please review with all CERT team members. It is imperative that all members on your team understand the potential personal liability that can arise out of the use of photos both in print and on social media websites.
CAMERA USE
East Naples Fire District supports the documentation of training events and team photos but requests that all such photos are taken by East Naples Fire District Staff trained in protecting personal rights. Taking photos is a very slippery slope and can end up in court.
Use of cameras, whether cell phone cameras, stand-alone cameras, or cameras contained on any other such personal devices, whether digital or conventional film cameras, including video camera, while performing any function, including activation, on behalf of East Naples Fire Control and Rescue District, CERT, is prohibited.
Much of this has to do with Public Record laws and HIPPA Privacy laws that govern the release of information.
In the case of an activation photo documentation may be used as necessary communications with East Naples Fire Rescue personnel. In this case once pictures are taken, no images may be used, printed, copied, scanned, e-mailed, posted, shared or distributed in any manner without the express, written approval of East Naples Fire Rescue. Example: This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, posting photos on personnel websites such as FaceBook or MySpace, You-Tube or on other public safety agency web sites, or e-mailing images to friends, colleagues or others in the Fire Rescue industry. All photos become property of East Naples Fire.
