Deputy claims social media policy violates his rights

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A deputy has filed a complaint in federal court claiming the new Harris County Sheriff's Office social media policy violates his civil rights.

Deputy Carl Pittman is suing Sheriff Adrian Garcia because of the department's social media policy. Pittman says it's overreaching and limits his right to free speech.

The policy went into effect in July. It states in part, "The HCSO personnel are free to express themselves as private citizens on social media sites to the degree that their speech does not impair working relationships of the HCSO." It also says the speech should not negatively affect "the public perception of the HCSO."

The 15-page policy goes on to say employees are prohibited from posting HCSO logos or badges or personal photographs that may cause them to be identified as HCSO employees.

Approximately 4,000 people work for the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Some have told us they've had to scrub their social media accounts of any reference to their employer.

In response to the lawsuit, the Sheriff's Office sent Eyewitness News this statement:

Pittman was a candidate for Sheriff in the 2012 Republican primary. He maintains this lawsuit is about a violation of his civil rights and nothing else.