Troopers Only Community Guidelines

Our Purpose

Troopers Only is a private, independent community created for men and women who work for the Virginia State Police. It provides a place to connect, unwind, exchange ideas, discuss workplace concerns, and have honest conversations about issues that matter to our community.

Troopers Only is not owned, operated, sponsored, endorsed by, or officially affiliated with the Virginia State Police or the Commonwealth of Virginia. Members participate in their personal capacity, and opinions expressed on the site belong solely to the individuals who express them.

Community Standards

1. Protect confidential and sensitive information

Never post, request, or share information that is confidential, restricted, legally protected, or sensitive, including:

• Information about active or pending investigations.

• Criminal intelligence or law-enforcement-sensitive information.

• Tactical plans, operational procedures, security measures, or deployment details.

• Personally identifiable information belonging to victims, witnesses, suspects, employees, or members of the public.

• Criminal-history, medical, personnel, disciplinary, or other protected records.

• Photographs, recordings, documents, screenshots, or database information that you are not authorized to disclose.

• Anything that could compromise an investigation, prosecution, operation, facility, officer, employee, or member of the public.

When in doubt, leave it out. Speak about workplace issues in general terms and remove names, locations, case numbers, dates, and other identifying details.

2. Remember that privacy cannot be guaranteed

Troopers Only is intended to be a private community, but no website or online conversation can guarantee complete confidentiality. Posts may be copied, photographed, forwarded, legally requested, or disclosed by another member.

Do not post anything that would create a safety, legal, professional, or employment risk if it became public.

3. Participate in your personal capacity

Unless specifically authorized, do not claim to speak on behalf of the Virginia State Police, the Commonwealth of Virginia, a bargaining representative, or any other organization.

Do not use the site to issue official instructions, make official announcements, direct operations, or represent personal opinions as agency policy.

4. Keep conversations respectful

Members may disagree, including about difficult workplace or policy issues. Debate ideas without attacking people.

The following are prohibited:

• Harassment, bullying, intimidation, or retaliation.

• Threats or encouragement of violence.

• Discrimination or degrading remarks based on a protected characteristic.

• Personal attacks, repeated hostile conduct, or deliberate humiliation.

• Obscene or abusive conduct directed at another person.

• Doxxing or sharing someone’s private information without permission.

Criticism and disagreement are welcome when expressed constructively and in good faith.

5. Respect fellow members’ privacy

Do not identify another member, quote their comments outside the community, or share screenshots or private messages without their permission, except when reasonably necessary to report an immediate safety concern, unlawful conduct, or a serious violation of these guidelines.

Members should be able to discuss concerns without becoming targets of gossip, retaliation, or public exposure.

6. Discuss workplace concerns responsibly

Members may discuss morale, working conditions, compensation, benefits, staffing, scheduling, equipment, policies, workplace culture, collective bargaining, and other matters of shared concern.

When doing so:

• Focus on issues and potential solutions.

• Avoid unsupported accusations presented as fact.

• Clearly distinguish personal knowledge from opinion, rumor, or speculation.

• Do not use the site to coordinate unlawful conduct or interfere with active law-enforcement responsibilities.

• Remember that conversations here do not replace official reporting, grievance, legal, or bargaining procedures.

7. Do not misuse the community

Troopers Only may not be used for:

• Criminal activity or instructions facilitating unlawful conduct.

• Unauthorized access to systems, records, or accounts.

• Impersonation or deceptive accounts.

• Targeting, monitoring, or retaliating against another member.

• Commercial spam, scams, or unauthorized solicitation.

• Political campaigning presented as an official position of the community or the Virginia State Police.

• Uploading malicious files or attempting to compromise the site.

8. Follow applicable obligations

Each member remains responsible for complying with applicable law, court orders, professional duties, employment obligations, and Virginia State Police policies.

Membership in Troopers Only does not authorize disclosure or conduct that would otherwise be prohibited.

9. This is not an emergency or official reporting channel

Do not use Troopers Only to report an emergency, request police assistance, submit evidence, make a criminal complaint, report an immediate threat, or satisfy a required workplace notification.

Use 911, an appropriate law-enforcement agency, a supervisor, Internal Affairs, Human Resources, an employee representative, legal counsel, or another authorized channel as circumstances require.

10. Collective-bargaining discussions

Troopers Only may provide a place for members to discuss collective bargaining and workplace representation if and when those matters become applicable. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the site is not itself a certified bargaining representative, labor organization, legal adviser, or official negotiating body.

Information posted here should not be treated as an official bargaining position, legal advice, or a substitute for communications from an authorized representative.

Moderation and Enforcement

Moderators may edit, restrict, or remove content that violates these guidelines or creates a credible confidentiality, privacy, security, legal, or safety risk. Depending on the circumstances, moderators may issue a warning, temporarily restrict an account, suspend access, or permanently remove a member.

Serious or repeated violations may result in immediate removal. Moderation decisions will be made as consistently and fairly as reasonably possible, but access to this private community is a privilege rather than an entitlement.

Member Commitment

By participating in Troopers Only, each member agrees to:

• Protect confidential and sensitive information.

• Respect the safety, dignity, and privacy of others.

• Communicate honestly and constructively.

• Accept responsibility for their own posts and conduct.

• Help preserve the community as a trusted place for connection and meaningful discussion.

Troopers Only works only when its members protect one another, use sound judgment, and treat the community with the same integrity expected of them professionally.