Police use the pictures to identify and find suspects of crimes often with the public’s help. They may post them on their own Facebook and Twitter accounts, in press releases that are picked up by the local press, or through Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound.
As a rule, local police may post pictures when they do not know who the suspects are or where they can be found. Police will check internally first to identify suspects and if they cannot, in certain situations, they will release the photos asking for help on who the suspects are and/or where the suspects can be found.
Citizens frequently post pictures of suspects, people taking packages off front porches, car prowling at night, and other suspicious activity. Photos and video help alert neighbors about crime and suspicious activity.
As a part of government, police need to follow the fourth amendment which prohibits unreasonable search and seizure. As Chief Kathleen Larson of the Woodinville Police Department points out, police have more stringent rules that they must follow than the average citizen, so they are very cautious in releasing information. Mistakes can compromise investigations.
While the fourth amendment only applies to government, there is concern that posting photos/videos by citizens could cause problems. Some people warn that posting videos can cause retaliation, lawsuits and vigilantism (people taking the law into their own hands). While there have not been any recent examples of lawsuits or retaliation reported in the press, local law enforcement officials remain concerned that problems could arise when a citizen posts a photo or video before checking with police.
For example, a picture of a vehicle that may look suspicious to you may turn out to be an innocent occurrence. It may be worth calling 911 to let police know what is going on but posting a photo may cause some people to jump to conclusions and take inappropriate actions.
One thing Chief Larson and Sgt Nathan Alanis of the Snohomish Police Department both agree on is that a victim of a crime should check with the investigating officer or deputy before releasing any pictures on social media. Doing so gives them the opportunity to advise whether release of the pictures would help or hinder the investigation. The goal for both you, the victim, and law enforcement should be to apprehend the right perpetrators and to enable the prosecutor to prosecute a fair trial.
Photos and video have become an important element to investigating and apprehending criminals. Coordinating with police only helps investigators do their jobs more effectively. Give some consideration on whether releasing photos on social media would help or hinder the apprehension of a suspect.
KING TV:
https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/doorbell-cameras-creating-dilemmas-for-police-neighborhoods/507-587143579?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5b81b55804d301021355a7aa&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter
Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound:
http://www.crimestoppers.com/sitemenu.aspx?ID=486&
Wikipedia, Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
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