Daleville, Ala.– (WDNews) Daleville police are warning the public about a false social media post circulating online that claims a female officer from the department is missing.
The photo being shared may depict a missing officer from another area, but authorities confirm the woman is not affiliated with the Daleville Police Department in any way.
Officials noted a few red flags to help the public identify misleading posts:
The original post appeared in a Buy, Sell, Trade group with no official agency backing it.
Comments were turned off, which can be a sign of misinformation.
No matching alert was ever issued on the department’s verified Facebook page.
“We value the public’s concern and the power of social media in spreading important alerts,” a department spokesperson said. “But we ask everyone to verify what they’re sharing — especially when it involves missing persons or public safety.”
If the department ever needs public assistance in a real case, they said it will be clearly posted from their official Facebook page.