Trenton Police restore Facebook page
TRENTON >> Offline for months while officials worked out the department’s social media policy, Trenton Police’s Facebook page is back online.
Police spokesman Lt. Stephen Varn said the department’s Facebook page was restored last week after the city ordered it taken down in June amid activist’ allegations that online critics were being censored.
The department cobbled together an internal department policy to address the issues, Varn said.
A 570-word disclaimer now appears on the page advising viewers the department can remove comments that are obscene, incite “lawless action” or “fighting words” presenting a “grave and imminent threat.”
The department’s Facebook page was removed at the direction of city clerk Richard Kachmar, who reportedly sent a memo outlining concerns about the whether police were complying with state Open Public Records Act law mandating the retention of city records.
Kachmar would not provide the memo when contacted by
and claimed whoever leaked it violated the law.
John Paff, a government accountability guru, said OPRA prevents the destruction of public records, even on social media pages. He said city police removing unfavorable comments on its page was a form of censorship.
Ed “NJ Weedman” Forchion and others made numerous records request related to his ongoing criminal case.
The city rejected many of those requests, and prominent New Jersey activist Steven Wronko has said he plans to sue the city for violating sunshine laws.
Police primarily used the page to promote and post feel-good stories about police and highlight some arrests, Varn said.
For example, the department posted Tuesday about Officer Jason Bouchard saving a heroin overdose victim on Greenwood Avenue.
Varn said the page is managed by a commander in the administrative bureau, and the policy straightened out any confusion.
“We feel Facebook is a valuable tool,” he said, “and it is being administered properly.”