Chief Gemme Violates City Social Media Standards

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Jaclyn Cashman GoLocalWorcester News Editor

Worcester Police Chief, Gary Gemme

Worcester Police Chief Gary Gemme violated the city's social media policy Friday morning when he took to Twitter to level a personal attack on GoLocalWorcester.com.

Gemme said, “Prediction.. GoLocal will go defunct before the new recruit class graduates and the new officers will have a long and secure career with WPD.”

This comment came in response to a GoLocalWorcester article questioning the job security of the latest round of police recruits, because of the multi-million dollar budget deficit the city is facing. Also, several of the 2009 police recruits were laid off and not rehired.

It has been previously reported by a number of other local media outlets that Gemme has a poor relationship with area reporters. He has a history of using his twitter handle to address media coverage.

Councilor calls behavior sophomoric

City Councilor Konstantina Lukes said, “One of the lessons that anyone learns when running for office is never engage in a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel. Now we are talking about a website that reaches thousands of people. It is a lesson we all have learned. Clearly the police chief doesn’t have a career in politics.”

During a recent City Council meeting, Councilor Lukes addressed Gemme’s behavior on twitter. Councilor Lukes said, “I asked him not to engage in sophomoric behavior and he said nothing.”

Ultimately Councilor Lukes holds City Manager Mike O’Brien responsible for Gemme's actions. “The chief is the Manager’s appointee and I hold the Manager responsible for his appointees and staff. I will evaluate the Manager in June. I will give him my opinions of his performance then. I will hold off on comment until the evaluation.”

What the social media policy says

Manager Michael O’Brien recently drafted a social media policy. It states that comments containing defamatory or personal attacks shall not be permitted.

Worcester resident Kevin Ksen, was one of several concerned citizens who asked the Manager to create such a policy. Ksen said, “This policy needed to be created because the police department was deleting news releases from its website and deleting comments from its Facebook page. We wanted the Manager to consider social media sites run by the city a public record, so the chief couldn’t delete comments from the department’s Facebook account.”

The Manager’s policy does state that social media sites are public record.

Ksen told GoLocal his reaction when he saw Gemme’s comments on twitter Friday morning. “I was surprised seeing that this morning. It is like the police chief is refusing to change….It is unprofessional and stupid.”

Chief Gary Gemme's reaction:

Police Chief Gary Gemme claims he has not violated the social media policy. Here’s his entire statement he provided to GoLocalWorcester:

"GoLocal's headline stating the "police recruits face little job security" was irresponsible and I appreciate that you removed it from your website. While you are entitled to your opinion regarding my twitter account not being private you are mistaken. It is a personal account that I use to reflect my personal views as a life long resident on the City of Worcester, taxpayer, voter, and concerned resident. These views are my views and they reflect my personal perspective as a private citizen. I also believe that having served thirty years as a police officer and six years in the United States Navy reserves (Honorably Discharged) I have earned the right, regardless of my employment, to exercise my right to free speech. I also wish your organization success that is why have I contributed a column and provided numerous quotes. I do believe that the product your organization produces does not always reflect accuracy or serve the community's best interest. As a private citizen I am simply stating my personal view. I would think that your organization is more stable and would not disappear simply because of a tweet from my personal account. I am sure your organization, like I have, has endured and ignored previous criticism."

GoLocalWorcester did not take down the story, as Chief Gemme stated.

The police chief has claimed that his twitter account is private, so he is free to say what he wants on it. The problem is that his name on Twitter (also called a handle) is @911Chief, he uses his police badge as a photo, links to the Worcester Police Department’s webpage and calls himself the police chief in his bio, making it a city Twitter account.

Here's Chief Gemme's Twitter Account

Chief's boss disapproves of Gemme's comments on twitter

His boss and City Manager, Mike O’Brien was not happy with Gemme’s latest attack on the media and a small business that just opened its doors in downtown Worcester. O’Brien said, “I disagree with the Chief’s comment regarding GoLocal and I wish GoLocal success.”

When asked about the Chief violating the social media policy, O’Brien said, “As to the social media policy and its implications here, I can’t comment as it is a personnel matter.”

O’Brien said in general terms if someone did violate the policy, “human resources would first address it verbally and then written and then disciplinary action would be taken.”

Councilor Frederick Rushton shared O’Brien’s disappointment in the Chief for predicting that a small business will fail in the city. Councilor Rushton said, “As a chairman of economic development for the city council we are in favor of growing small and large businesses. We don’t share some of the thoughts expressed.”

Being a public figure

Regardless if Gemme’s twitter account is public or private, Councilor Rushton said he is a public figure. “The bottom line is any public figure putting anything in a public domain will reflect on their public job.”

When asked about Gemme’s tweets, William Eddy said, “My opinion is you (referring to GoLocal) have strayed from journalism and that you are involved in a tiff with the police Chief and I am not getting involved.”

Tony Economou said he would refer comment on the issue to the Manager, but did say, “I don’t want any business to go out of business. I think you hiring people is a good thing.”

Every member of the City Council was contacted, but did not return calls. The Mayor told GoLocal he had no comment.

Concerned Worcester resident, Jim Kersten said the Chief lacks professionalism, “We in the city need to demand professionalism from all departments. This is a clear violation of the policy. In the past he has directed his attacks on judges, councilors and now a new small business in the city. I think this speaks to the lack of professionalism of the chief.”

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