Elgin police Officer Jason Lentz was back to work Tuesday, on the force that dismissed him just over a year ago due to a post on Facebook. According to The Courier-News, Lentz was told to take down posts that made direct comments about the events in Ferguson, Mo., after a white officer shot and killed a young black male.
An arbitrator in the case found that the city of Elgin should not have fired Lentz but upheld a six-month suspension without pay. Lentz will be fully reinstated with back pay, full seniority, pension, and all other contractual benefits for the additional six months he was off.
“I support freedom of speech, but people need to be mindful of what they say on social media”, said Batavia resident and recent college graduate Emily Murtaugh. “Political opinions do not belong on Facebook, especially by a law enforcement officer. I typically only use Facebook to connect with friends to get together for social occasions. I know a lot people who use Twitter to express their political views, but I prefer to keep those ideas to myself.”
Denise Tracy, police chaplain and president of the Coalition of Elgin Religious Leaders, has nothing but good things to say about the Elgin police force under the leadership of Mayor Dave Kaptain and Chief Jeff Swoboda. “Elgin has so many good officers that I would trust my life with, including the approximate 17 female officers that I have great respect for,” she said.
“The Clergy Coalition of Elgin had met with Mayor Kaptain and Chief Swoboda every other month, but since the incident in Ferguson, the group has been meeting more often,” said Tracy. This group’s objective is to keep the city and community working together to avoid situations like those that occurred in Ferguson.
There have been four community meetings with several hundred participants “working to build trust within the Elgin community,” said Tracy. She is confident that the “reinstatement of Officer Lentz will not harm the outstanding work of the Elgin police force.”
Whether you use Facebook to keep in touch with your friends, family and casual acquaintances or to express your views about controversial events, you must keep in mind that once it is posted on social media, you might find yourself in hot water over a comment you did not intend to make with malice in mind.
If you do make comments with the intention to offend others, be prepared to pay the consequences.
In this case, Lentz has dodged a bullet by only receiving a six-month suspension without pay and not losing his job permanently, thanks to the arbitration process.
Linda McDaniel-Hale is a Fox Valley resident who offers opinion on local topics.
