A lighthearted story on a funny Facebook post took an uncomfortable turn once an officer was accused of making anti-Semitic posts in the past.
A recent story in our Sales Wake Up newsletter set out to illustrate social media marketing tips and ended up highlighting how fast and dramatically a viral story can change.
The story, about a Gainesville, Florida, Police Department Facebook post that went viral after commenters started cat-calling the officers, attracted our attention because it showed how humor can inject personality into social media posts. Unfortunately, after our story was written, news broke that one of the officers has a history of making anti-Semitic jokes.
Doug Fink of Broadway Floral in Portland, Oregon, was one SAF member to bring the news to our attention. “Dreamy cop may not be so dreamy,” Fink noted.
In fact, with the new allegations, the police department has found itself in a situation our social media expert Jessica Mey of Crystal Media warned explicitly against: “As a business, keep humor non-confrontational,” Mey said. “No religion, politics or insensitive jokes.”
We want to hear from readers when we goof. Email feedback to mwestbrook@safnow.org.
