As “Officer Nixon”, Niko R. (last name changed) has been giving insights into his everyday life as a district inspector for several years and, with more than 30,000 fans on the social network, has become an face for the police, who are plagued by personnel shortages. “I have around 40 confirmations from people across Austria who went to the police through me,” R. told the APA.
It all started at the end of 2019. The police officer with more than ten years of service was out of action due to an injury. “We were looking for someone. My left thumb was broken when he was arrested,” remembers R. “That took two months of healing time. During that time I was so tired that I created an Instagram account,” says R , whose real last name remains unmentioned for privacy reasons. At the same time, the officer and friends developed a video game that simulates the daily nature of the police. “A kind of GTA just for police officers. I then uploaded streams of it to YouTube,” said R. When the pandemic hit Austria in spring 2020, his YouTube account and his Instagram presence as “Officer Nixon” benefited from each other.
“I want to inspire young people to become police officers”
Since then, social media work has developed into a second job for the district inspector. “I want to inspire young people to become police officers.” The Viennese with Styrian roots is trying to do this with police content in the style of an influencer. “Even though I don’t actually like the word influencer.” On his account on the online platform you can find, among other things, explanatory videos regarding plate caps, blue light controls or emergency belts, snapshots of rescued cats or view photos of the WEGA climbing tower in Vienna’s Rossauer Kaserne. However, he “of course” does not post images or videos that endanger operations or people or violate data protection. “I do this from a private cell phone and make sure that the service is not disrupted.”
In fact, the use of social media for police officers on duty is a gray area. In addition to R., only around a handful of other officers across Austria allow followers on Instagram to take a look behind the scenes of police work. “Colleagues obviously have to be careful when they come out on social media,” says Dominik Grabner, head of social media at the Vienna State Police Directorate. In this context, he also refers to the Civil Service Law, which stipulates that one’s own behavior should not damage the “trust of the general public.” “Of course we keep an eye on these colleagues and we see what they do.” There is no cooperation between the public relations department and officials with private social media accounts.
Police personnel replenishment thanks to “Officer Nixon”
Nevertheless, the police are aware of the added value of “Officer Nixon”, as R. is followed by around 10,000 more people than the official account of the Vienna State Police Directorate. “Of course, colleagues like him, if they do it well, are an asset to the police. They all do it with passion,” Grabner told the APA.
With his posts he has now ensured that the police have more staff. “People write to me: ‘Thank you Nixon for motivating me to get my dream job’ and send me a photo of the confirmation of acceptance into the police academy.” He has now received around 40 such photos across Austria. “I am now regularly requested for recruiting events,” he says. “I always wanted someone to give me an insight into the police profession.”
