Amid controversy, Rochester police consider social media policy

The Rochester Police Department is considering a social media policy amid allegations that an officer posted offensive material to Facebook.

The discussion comes a month after the department received anti-Muslim images that allegedly appeared on Officer Ben Schlag's Facebook page.

Chief Roger Peterson says he supports a social media policy, as long as it's consistent with the department's current communication rules and doesn't create a second, weaker standard.

"It doesn't matter if you said, 'My employer doesn't agree with this, this is just the way that I feel,'" Peterson said. "Well, if that's how you feel as a police officer, you have a perfect right to say that. You probably don't have a right to be a police officer."

Officer Schlag remains on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

The police oversight committee may weigh in on the matter, but the department has the final decision.