800-02 Media Relations Flashcards
Department employees shall refrain from making public statements about departmental policy or initiatives unless _____.
The department recognizes, however, that each employee has constitutional rights with regard to free speech and respects each employee’s right to express personal opinions.
the statements have been approved by the Office of the Chief of Police
In emergency or scene-related situations, officers shall ____
After the information is released, officers shall notify the ____, as soon as possible. Notification to the Media Relations Unit can be made either by telephone or by sending an email to the department’s DL-PA Media Relations group.
If the office is closed, the notification shall be left on the telephone recorder.
1) provide the media with information regarding the scene or event in a timely manner.
2) department’s Office of Public Affairs, Media Relations Unit
In follow-up or other non-emergency situations, department employees receiving media inquiries shall first coordinate the release of this type of information by ____.
Employees shall talk to a public information officer who shall assist in handling the media request prior to the response. When it is impractical to contact the Media Relations Unit prior to the release of information, department employees shall ____.
1) calling the Media Relations Unit
2) do so as soon as possible after the release of information is made
If an officer is involved in a shooting, discharge of a firearm, or injury, or any other significant
incident, the media release shall be handled by the ____.
It shall be the responsibility of the ____ to contact the duty public information officer upon receipt of a call of this nature.
1) duty public information officer
2) Crime Analysis and Command Center
MEDIA ACCESS THROUGH POLICE LINES
Officers shall adhere to the following guidelines when dealing with the media at crime scenes
and at other police emergencies:
a. The first officers to arrive at a crime scene or other police event shall quickly ____. Only police and emergency personnel necessary for the on-scene investigation and operation shall be allowed inside this perimeter.
establish a tight perimeter around the immediate crime scene
MEDIA ACCESS THROUGH POLICE LINES
Officers shall adhere to the following guidelines when dealing with the media at crime scenes
and at other police emergencies:
b. Department employees are expected to assist members of the media by providing accurate information and allowing passage through police lines when ____
it does not jeopardize public safety or compromise a criminal investigation.
MEDIA ACCESS THROUGH POLICE LINES
Officers shall adhere to the following guidelines when dealing with the media at crime scenes
and at other police emergencies:
c. If a public information officer is needed to assist in the dissemination of information to the
media at crime scenes or police events, the____ shall be contacted and advised to have the duty public information officer respond to the scene.
Crime Analysis and Command Center
MEDIA ACCESS THROUGH POLICE LINES
Officers shall adhere to the following guidelines when dealing with the media at crime scenes
and at other police emergencies:
d. ____, when they are present at a police action, shall be responsible for releasing appropriate information to the media. Examples include homicides, robberies, burglaries, auto thefts, and other scenes at which divisional personnel routinely handle the release of information to the media.
Investigative personnel
MEDIA ACCESS THROUGH POLICE LINES
Officers shall adhere to the following guidelines when dealing with the media at crime scenes
and at other police emergencies:
e. During special threat situations, media representatives shall be directed to an area
predetermined by the ____. When appropriate, information may be released to the media at that area.
scene commander
POLICE AND MEDIA RELATIONS
Officers shall permit media representatives to question witnesses, complainants, or suspects
only _____
Employees shall not arrange interviews of ____. (Note: Media representatives who attempt to interview an arrested person while that person is being walked from a scene of the arrest should not be viewed as interfering.)
1) after such persons have been questioned by the police.
2) persons under arrest
POLICE AND MEDIA RELATIONS
No details of an internal investigation shall be given to the media until the case has been
concluded, and then only with _____
the approval of the Chief of Police.
POLICE AND MEDIA RELATIONS
When an employee is unsure if a person requesting information is in fact a representative of the media, the employee shall ____.
direct the person to contact the Media Relations Unit
POLICE AND MEDIA RELATIONS
When the volume of media requests for information about a specific incident exceeds the ability of a command to answer the inquiries, or when an answer to such requests would compromise the success of an investigation or operation, a supervisor of that command shall ___, ____, and ____.
All future media calls shall then be referred to the Media Relations Unit.
1) contact the Media Relations Unit
2) brief a public information officer about the incident
3) ask the Media Relations Unit to handle calls on the matter
CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION
No employee shall release confidential information contained in any personnel database without proper authority. Items deemed to be confidential are ____, ____, ___, and ____.
1) employee numbers
2) home addresses
3) home and cell telephone numbers
4) absences
CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION
If personal information about an officer is required on such forms, the following information shall
be used:
a. Name (___)
b. Address (___)
c. Phone Number (___)
1) officer’s initials and last name
2) 1200 Travis
3) officer’s work phone number
