using social media in dui investigations · 2018-05-17 · •2014, while search social media for...

Using Social Media in

DUI Investigations

Officer First Class Frank L. Imparato

University of Central Florida Police Department

DUI & SOCIAL MEDIA ENFORCEMENT

#2Drunk2Care

• Kayla Mendoza – Tweeted “2 Drunk 2 Care” 3 hours before hitting and killing two young women in wrong way crash.

• Other tweets included “2 high 2 care” and “my care smells like weed”

• Posted on numerous social media accounts that she had been consuming alcohol and narcotics.

• Sentenced to 24 years in prison.

Live Streaming

• Live streaming on

DUI/Hit and Run• Oregon Teen crashed into two parked cars before fleeing the

scene

• Posted a status update on Facebook hours later

• Citizen reported post to law enforcement

• Could not prove DUI-did a knock and talk and matched damages on vehicles.

Blazer Bob• 2014, while search social media for #ucf – came across subject

with user name “BlazerBob”• Search of his public social media showed numerous videos of

making and selling BTO• Defendant posted additional social media videos identifying his

class schedule • An investigation began and subjects home residence and

vehicle were located• Knock and talk conducted and 70+ grams of cannabis

recovered

Blazer Bob

• After initial arrest, subject defendant removed all social media• One year later, subject was stopped an arrested for DUI (drugs)

Search for local bars

Search for local bars

Creating an social media campaign 

Time for accountability.

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National DUI arrests

31,783

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Keri’s Story

• It started with getting to know a family

• The power of the family’s story combined with the reach of social media brought an impactful message about DUI prevention to hundreds of thousands of people

Keri Anne DeMott

• Junior at UCF studying sociology

• Killed at age 20 as she was on her way home from visiting her longtime boyfriend

• The driver of the car that hit hers is a multiple DUI offender

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Posted April 8, 2016Reached 41,000 on Facebook alone

How We Did It• Tact and sensitivity matter

• PIOs interviewed the DeMott family and captured ride-alongs• Basic DSLR camera, tripod, mic and light kit (< $1,000)• Video edited using Adobe Premiere

• About 15 hours went into video 1• On top of assigned patrol and other responsibilities

• In total, about 35 hours were spent developing 3 videos

• Tight budget meant no social boosting, but we leveraged the power of partnerships

Making an Impact• Videos were uploaded to

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

• They were shared on Bill DeMott’s Twitter (179,000+ followers) and through UCF’s Facebook page (255,000+ likes)

• Campus and local media also picked up the story

Photo courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel

Relationships Matter• Take the time to get to

know people• If we hadn’t invested the time to talk,

share videos before they were published, etc., perhaps the partnership would not have gone as far as it has

• 3 videos in April 2016• Anniversary tribute in

October 2016• 2017 Central Florida

Walk Like MADD

Simple. Powerful. Made Possible by Trust.

YOU Can Do This• The message– not your agency– comes first

• Think like your target audience

• Simple is best for social

• Leverage partnerships

Thank you.

Ofc. Frank ImparatoUCF Police Department

Frank.Imparato@UCF.edu407-823-5555