CENTENNIAL HONORS COLLEGE
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2015
Podium Presentation
Can You Ride with the Cops and Cheer for the Robbers?
David Allen
Faculty Mentor: Jill Myers
Law Enforcement & Justice Administration
We live in a technological age where social media has become the accepted and expected norm of
communication… Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, are used daily to post information for the world to
see. Many people post without thought as to the message’s impact on their reputations or careers. My
research explores how social media affects employment. I examined case law involving public employees
(law enforcement officers, firemen, and teachers), who faced repercussions for their actions on social
media. An analysis of Supreme Court cases such as Rankin v. McPherson and Pickering v. Board of
Education illustrates that free speech over social media can and does significantly impact employment if
the wrong thing is said or done. Public employers have the authority and duty to monitor and respond to
conduct that is unbecoming or unprofessional in person or via social media on-duty and off-duty.