To illustrate:

[bdickens]

To illustrate what Kleanbore was talking about when starting the now-closed think-before-you-post thread
( https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/a-serious-reminder-think-before-posting-etc.877598/ )

Here is a shocking story of how comments were deliberately taken out of context to try to railroad someone. Read. Learn.

"In 2013, an on-duty shooting by a California sheriff’s deputy was sensationalized by news and social media to the extent that protestors blocked traffic on highways and a multi-year investigation and civil rights lawsuit against the deputy ensued. The same incident was simultaneously the subject of intense concern of another nature amongst armed citizens who participated on Internet forums. While armed citizens often follow police shooting cases, this case had a higher level of investment for most because Erick Gelhaus, the deputy involved, moderated and posted to firearms boards, wrote for gun magazines, taught at Gunsite and was respected for over two decades of law enforcement and military service. While Erick Gelhaus’ story is compelling on its own, it contains lessons critical to armed citizens. Now that the civil case is settled, several federal agencies closed investigations, clearing him of wrongdoing and he has retired, he is free to discuss those lessons. We switch now to Q&A format to learn from Erick Gelhaus in his own words."

https://www.armedcitizensnetwork.org/lessons-in-preparation

 

[Jeff White]

Erick moderated this forum with me years ago.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Toni McBride is another example.

 

[Old Dog]

A take-away from this should be that it might be exponentially more difficult for a private citizen when his/her social media postings come to light after a deadly force incident.

At least for most LEOs, they can count on a pretty thorough internal investigation and generally will have peer support (one's administration is another story). And, if the initial indications are that an officer acted within policy, the department and the union will help out with legal counsel.

And by all means, keep the heck away from any activity remotely political, especially if you're doing it in a non-PC way. We have a cop in a sister agency in deep doo-doo because of a couple dumb FB posts "All lives splatter" meme, etc., after a protester got run over, etc.