Facebook Decision 'Egregious': Ex-Riverside Chief

RIVERSIDE, IL — Former Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel is calling on Facebook to immediately reverse its recent decision banning an Illinois police group from promoting its selection of Officer of the Year.

The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police has honored East Peoria police Officer Jeffrey Bieber, who responded to a domestic disturbance earlier this year in which he was injured and spent several months recovering.

The ad content was rejected twice, with Facebook telling the association that it violated its advertising policies and guidelines, Weitzel said. Facebook said the ad may have been rejected because it mentions politicians or is about "sensitive social issues that could influence public opinion, how people vote and may impact the outcome of an election or pending legislation."

Weitzel said there is nothing political about the ad.

"This really seems egregious, as the Facebook post never had any political overtones," Weitzel said in a letter Sunday to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. "I would be extremely disheartened if your staff believes that it is wrong to post comments about a brave police officer who suffered serious injuries while protecting his community in East Peoria, Illinois... I believe that Facebook is being anti-law enforcement with this decision."

Facebook provided an explanation for the banned ad to Patch.

“We require advertisers to complete our ad authorizations process and create 'Paid for by' disclaimers to run social, issue and political ads," Facebook's statement said. "We have reached out directly to the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police to explain how to run this type of ad.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 2,600 people have signed a Change.org petition asking Facebook to allow recognition of Bieber.