The Fort Dodge Police Department and our members are very aware that social media plays a large role in how our community interacts and communicates with each other. At its best it can bring people together, support one another, and create positive connections. There are also ways to use it that create the opposite effect.

While I respect every individual’s First Amendment right to record, speak, and express their own opinions about government agencies and those that work within them, we also have an obligation to address misinformation, its impact on our community and the toll it takes on the men and women who serve it.

Our officers come to work each day with a commitment to protect and serve you, our residents, businesses and visitors to Fort Dodge. They respond to dangerous, unpredictable, and emotionally charged situations, often with very limited time to make critical decisions. Do we make mistakes? Of course, and not one of us is immune to the experience of being human.

But to see their actions publicly mischaracterized, misrepresented and their integrity questioned without full context or factual basis, is both deeply discouraging and unfair. We are not afraid of scrutiny. Legitimate questions and concerns about police conduct are an important part of maintaining transparency and trust.

It is important to remember, though, that social media is not a fact checked investigative body, a court of law, or a complete record of an incident. Shortened clips, sound bites, one-sided commentary, and spreading unfounded or unactual accusations can easily create a distorted picture of events. This not only harms individual officers and their families, but it also undermines trust in the very systems designed to keep our community safe.

We encourage members of the public to seek information from reliable, verifiable sources and to contact our department directly if they have questions about police activity. Misinformation may generate clicks and attention online, but it does not contribute to a safer or more informed community.

To the officers and staff of the Fort Dodge Police Department: I recognize the toll that public attacks and false allegations can take on your morale and on your families. Your work matters. No one sees the thousands of calls that no one films, the crises de-escalated, the victims comforted, the neighborhoods protected. You are the foundation of public safety in Fort Dodge, and you have my full support. This department will continue to stand with you and for you. However, we will not be drawn into personal disputes or online arguments. Instead, we will continue to focus on our mission: safeguarding the lives, rights, and property of all who live in or visit Fort Dodge.

To our community: we remain committed to transparency, accountability, and open communication. We invite constructive dialogue, community involvement, and direct engagement.

We ask for your support, your patience, and your willingness to look beyond sound bites and headlines as we work together to build a safer, more trusting community.

Dennis Quinn is the police chief in Fort Dodge.