Transparency in the police department
From page 471 of the police report:
After significant accomplishments by the Department or major crimes, regardless of the hour of day or day of week, the PIO should prepare a news release for the media and the Department. News media agencies should not be expected to jump through hoops for basic public information. When there are unpleasant events or complaints, which will occur in any agency, the Department should put the facts on the table in a timely manner. When there are accomplishments as evidenced by the Study Team in Greensboro, the CIty and Department needs to put those accomplishments on the table.
About time.
We have had problems getting basic information about crime from the police department. I'm talking basic public information. We have spoken with city officials about the issue, but progress has been limited. We know that police officers often perform heroic acts. We have asked to be alerted when this occurs. Again, progress has been limited. And I have written many times, most recently here, about the difficulty getting information about "unpleasant events or complaints."
More openness would go a long way toward dealing with the public perceptions of the department.
Here are two of the preceding paragraphs relating to public information:
Sixteenth, the City should provide funding for a full-time public information officer (PIO). Members throughout the ranks noted that the Department does not do a good job at announcing events or activities within the Department. In reading daily news accounts, it is apparent that there are opportunities for improvement. News media agencies should not be required to find someone to make a statement on crimes, complaints, status of incidents, or the many positives in police departments.
The Department has a written directive on News Media Relations. The directive, Number 20.3, states that "the Executive Officer to the Chief of Police shall serve as the Public Information Officer for the Department. The PIO shall serve as the primary media contact during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, from 0800 to 1700 hours." Modern news media requirements are not a 9-5 job. With the current duties and demands it is virtually impossible for the executive officer to the chief of police to serve effectively as the PIO for the Department.
Update: Related action last night.