A reel posted to a Facebook account that identifies itself as the Mississippi Highway Patrol was captioned “Let’s go 👀 Hopping on the gas station trend to show off a little bit.” The post included the hashtags #Mississippi, #PublicSafety, #gasstation and #lawenforcement.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is the state law enforcement agency responsible for highway safety and traffic enforcement across Mississippi. The agency regularly shares information about road conditions, safety campaigns and enforcement actions, and this post represents a different, more social-media oriented approach.
Law enforcement agencies nationwide have increasingly used social platforms to engage the public, provide updates and shape community relations. Participating in popular social-media trends can increase visibility and engagement, but it can also prompt discussion about tone and appropriateness for public safety organizations.
Details about the timing, intent and reception of the post were limited. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
