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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: April 4, 2025  Amends - GO 14.1.0 ( May 11, 2024 ) Number: 14.1.0 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: January Reviewing Authority: Undersheriff / Strategic Communications Subject: Media Relations This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Definitions 4. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this order is to outline guidelines for how information is distributed to the media and the public for all members of the Orange County Sheriff's Office. 2. Policy It is the policy of the Sheriff’s Office to provide accurate , timely information to the news media and to the public provided that such informatio n does not jeopardize active investigations, prejudice the accused's right to a fair trial or violate the law. Members of the Orange County Sheriff's Office who speak to the media about agency matters shall confirm that they d o so in accordance with this order. 3. Definitions Exempt Records – certain records are not subject to public access in accordance with FS 119.071 . The failure to release a record that is not exempt is a criminal violation. All personnel who interact wi th the media or who are tasked with releasing information to the public shall comply with Florida Public Records law. The following are among those exempt from disclosure or confidential. A. Criminal Investigative Information - information relating to an identifiable person or group of persons compiled by a criminal justice agency in the course of conducting a criminal investigation of a specific act or omission, including but not limited to, information derived from laboratory tests, reports of investigators or informants, or any type of surveillance. Such information is considered "active" as long as it is related to an ongoing investigation which is continuing with a reasonable, good faith anticipation of securing an arrest or prosecution in the foreseeable future. It remains active throughout criminal prosecution and direct appeals. This information is not a public record while active, but may be released with permission of the investigator or agency member who is assigned to the case. Once this information is released to any member of the public, it loses its exempt status. 14.1.0, Page 2 of 6 B. Criminal Intelligence Information - information concerning identifiable person or group of persons collected by a c riminal justice agency in an effort to anticipate, prevent, or monitor possible criminal activity. Such information is considered "active" as long as it is related to intelligence gathering conducted with a reasonable, good faith belief that it will lead to detection of ongoing or reasonably anticipated criminal activities. C. All Social Security numbers are confidential and prohibited from disclosure, 4. Procedures A. Media Relations 1. Each member of the agency shall be professional and courteous with representatives of the news media. 2. At the scene of any event of public interest, representatives of the news media will be permitted to conduct interviews, take photographs, and otherwise perform their assigned tasks prov ided their activity is not in violation of the guidelines established in this General Order, and provided such activity does not interfere with law enforcement operations. Note that the media should not be excluded from areas otherwise open to the public. 3. Media releases concerning the interpretation or explanation of agency policy or investigations of an internal nature will be made by the Sheriff or designee. B. Public Information Officer (PIO) The PIO shall be the primary authoritative source for med ia contacts. 1. The PIO shall respond to media requests for information through any means that are appropriate for each situation. Information can be released through social media channels, via email, phone or in person. 2. The media will sometimes arrive at a news scene when there is no PIO present. If the supervisor in charge requests the PIO's guidance, Communications shall make the appropriate contact. 3. The Watch Commander should handle media requests on signifi cant events that come into the C ommunications Center after hours. If an event is not significant enough to warrant a staff page from a Watch Commander, the Communications Center will direct the media representative to submit their request for information to the PIO by email. If the Watch Commander determines the response of the PIO is required , the Watch Commander or Communications supervisor shall notify the PIO. 4. Because of the sensitive and confidential nature of our law enforcement operations, whenever a representative of the news media expresses a desire to interview a member of the agency on a matter that is currently an active criminal investigation or involvi ng criminal intelligence information, such an interview may only be conducted on the approval of the appropriate Division Commander or designee and shall be coordinated through the Strategic 14.1.0, Page 3 of 6 Communications office. Notwithstanding the above, the on-scene commander at a breaking news event may authorize a deputy to comment to the media on that event. C. News Conferences News conferences will be conducted only with the approval of the Sheriff or designee. Such approval must be obtained via the chai n of command, and the news conference shall be coordinated by Strategic Communications. When another agency is involved in an incident , Strategic Communications shall be responsible for coordinating the release of information with the other agency. D. Release of information 1. Information will be released as promptly as circumstances allow. The supervisor or deputy in charge of a newsworthy event shall prepare and forward the information to the PIO for action in a timely fashion