36 (1)

Date: 09/30/90 Revision: 07/05/22 Reviewed: 05/14/24 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHAD CHRONISTER , SHERIFF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Number: GEN 119.02 Page : 1 of 2 SUBJECT: NOTIFICATION OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE * I. PURPOSE : The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to define the guidelines and procedures for notification of the Public Affairs Office when there are significant events of public interest and during times of catastrophic emergency. II. SCOPE : This procedure shall apply to all Sheriff's Office personnel. III. DISCUSSION : To enhance necessary public support, it is important to the effective operation of the Sheriff's Office that the general public be informed on all matters and activities pertinent to the agency. At the direction of the Sheriff, the Public Affairs Office shall develop and maintain a program geared to generate and distribute information of legitimate public interest via the varied news media. IV. PROCEDURE : A. The Public Affairs Office shall report to the Department of Administrative Services Colonel, the Chief Deputy of Support Operations, and/or the Sheriff. Specific duties and responsibilities of this component and its members are defined in standard operatin g procedure s DAS 120.00 and DAS 120.01. B. The Public Affairs Office shall be notified in the following situations: * 1. Serious injury or death involving or caused by a deputy while on duty or off duty, to include injury or death that occurs while performing in a law enforcement capacity or while operating a Sheriff's Office vehicle . 2. Detention incidents resulting in serious injury or other detention problems that may be of public interest or in the interest of the protection of the public. 3. Escaped prisoner. 4. Hostage/barricade situations. 5. Explosive ordnance (major incidents involving explosive violence). 6. Disaster situations. 7. Significant events of public interest including , but not limited to, homicide, suicide, serious bodily injury, violent crimes, etc. C. The Public Affairs Office shall be notified in a timely manner by the supervisor of the investigating district/division when a major crime or catastrophic events require on-site liaison and coordination for the dissemination of information to news media representatives. The Communications supervisor shall notify the Public Affairs Office by phone or email. D. The Public Affairs Office shall be responsible for information gathering, preparation, and dissemination to news media representatives during times of extreme emergencies , such as hurricanes or other potential catastrophic events. During such catastrophic events, the Public Affairs Office shall: GEN 119.02 07/05/22 Page 2 of 2 * 1. Report directly to the Department of Administrative Services Colonel, the Chief Deputy of Support Operations, and/or Sheriff , or designee , during times of extreme emergency. 2. Set up a disaster media center on the second floor of the Sheriff's Opera tions Center, 2008 E. 8th Avenue, Communications Operations Center. 3. Ensure that the center is equipped with all necessary communications and survival equipment and other necessities for support (e.g., televisio ns, radio, phones, desk, chairs, floor mattresses, etc.). 4. Notify all agencies responsible for various activities related to extreme emergency situations (e.g., Bureau of Emergency Management, EMS, Tampa Police, hospitals, fire departments, utility companies) phone number, radio conta ct procedure, and mobile phone number. 5. Notify all news media organizations of the Public Affairs Office disaster media center phone number, radio contact procedure, and mobile phone number. 6. Ensure contact with the Sheriff's Office Communications Bureau supervisor on duty to maintain a constant flow of pertinent factual information for processing and dissemination to the news media in an accurate and timely manner (such information includes hazardous events and conditions, damages, unusual events, and other information generated by Sheriff's Office field forces). 7. Receive and relay, via news media, any special bulletins, instructions, and other messages requested by bona fide agencies