A serious gap in legislation and policies regarding first responders and social media use has come to light after the Bell Mountain tragedy.
On the morning of March 8, 2025, the bodies of 19-year-old twins Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis were found on Bell Mountain in Towns County. Firefighter Scott Kerlin was on the scene who took pictures of the twins and shared them publicly on social media. While Kerlin was fired and charged with an obstruction of justice misdemeanor, the situation sparks questions about laws and policies regulating first responders and their social media usage in an increasingly digital age.
Towns County Fire Chief Harold Copeland told reporters that the county courthouse advised him not to comment on the case. Copeland shared that Kerlin’s actions were “unacceptable and shouldn’t have happened,” but declined to comment further on the situation. Copeland directed reporters to Towns County Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw.
Bradshaw stated that Towns County first responders are not permitted to post images of civilians under any circumstances.
“We’re just not allowed,” Bradshaw said. “As far as EMS (emergency medical services), we do not take pictures. So, I mean, all of our records are on the computer. As far as our PCR (patient care report), we do not take pictures, and we do not allow body cameras.”
He stated first responders who post photos are subject to termination.
According to Cobb County Public Information Officer David Buchanan, Cobb County’s police department has strict protocols surrounding its officers’ posting photos on social media.
“In our department, officers can’t post anything on social media that’s case-related, while they’re on duty, work-related, even a picture of them in uniform without prior approval from the chief or the public information officer,” Buchanan said. “As part of the onboarding process, you have to read through all the policies and sign off on them, so that would just be a policy violation.”
Fresh Take Georgia’s reporters found that the training documents and policy information distributed to incoming Cobb County police officers do not provide clear guidelines for social media use. They instead focus on the release of information to the public and interaction with news media.
Based on the social media policy obtained from Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services (CCFES), firefighters’ social media policies are equally vague.
The policy states that: ‘CCFES endorses the secure and responsible use of social media and electronic communication to enhance communication and information exchange; streamline processes; and foster productivity with its employees.’
It urges Cobb County firefighter personnel and affiliates to use good judgment and ask supervisors about content they feel may be controversial or possibly inappropriate. However, it lacks a clear definition of what types of content are considered appropriate or inappropriate for posting.
While certain states like Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Colorado, Texas and New York have passed social media laws, these laws include misinformation and child protection.
The only law that somewhat addresses first responders’ misuse of social media is the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects patient information related to health care and identity.
However, HIPAA does not cover every scenario. Qaadir Malik and Naazir Rahim Lewis’ case was not covered under HIPAA.
No state has enacted laws specifically regulating first responders’ social media use. Without any existing legislative backing, families and loved ones are left to deal with the fallout.
“It’s scary. I’m literally scared to go on social media. I’m scared to pick up my phone because I know if I see that picture, I already know I’ll have a heart attack,” Samira Brawner, the twins’ aunt, told 11Alive news.
Other Georgia residents question when lawmakers will put clearer policies regarding first responders and social media into place.
Maria Silva, a 22-year-old Marietta resident, said she was surprised to learn that no state law has been enacted.
“I feel like social media has been around long enough that somebody should have thought about that already,” Silva said. “If things like this happen so often, then why hasn’t anyone done anything?”
The Towns County case is not the first of its kind. In 2020, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were discovered sharing horrific photos of Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crash. That same year, a Guyton, Ga. police officer was suspended after “laughing off” concerns on TikTok about his department’s slow response to a 911 call.
A simple Google search brings up dozens of results showing first responders misusing social media, jeopardizing their jobs, and causing further distress to families in crisis.
Silva believes more specific laws and regulations would help address this issue.
“Not every person has the same sense of right and wrong, or what is considered inappropriate,” Silva said. “I have many friends in the medical field, and they’re all terrified of a HIPAA violation. I do think that having specific laws like no photographing on your personal devices on the job or something like that is needed.”
Amid the controversy, Cobb Police officer Buchanan maintains that first responders are held to a higher standard than the actions of certain offenders and empathizes with affected families.
“If I had a sibling or a parent that had an active case going on, I wouldn’t want them to just be putting their information out there like that, unless there’s a good reason to do that,” Buchannan said. “We’re held to a higher standard than the average citizen, because that’s what comes when we are sworn in as a police officer, that we swear to uphold the constitution and do what’s best for the community.”
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