Policy Text
Policy
321San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/10/31, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentMedia Relations - 1Media Relations
321.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidelines for the release of official department information to the media.
It also addresses coordinating media access to scenes of disasters, criminal investigations,
emergencies, and other law enforcement activities.
321.2 RESPONSIBILITIES
The ultimate authority and responsibility for the release of information to the media shall remain
with the Chief of Police. In situations not warranting immediate notice to the Chief of Police and in
situations where the Chief of Police has given prior approval, Division Chiefs, Watch Commanders,
and designated Public Information Officers (PIOs) may prepare and release information to the
media in accordance with this policy and the applicable laws regarding confidentiality.
321.3 ACCESS
Authorized media representatives shall be provided access to scenes of disasters, criminal
investigations, emergencies, and other law enforcement activities as required by law.
Access by the media is subject to the following conditions (Penal Code § 409.5(d)):
(a)The media representative shall produce valid press credentials that shall be
prominently displayed at all times while in areas otherwise closed to the public. Media
representatives may not bring or facilitate the transport of an unauthorized person
into a closed area unless it is for the safety of the person as determined by a police
department employee.
(b)Media representatives may be prevented from interfering with emergency operations
and criminal investigations.
1.Based upon available resources, reasonable effort should be made to provide a
safe staging area for the media that is near the incident and that will not interfere
with emergency or criminal investigation operations. All information released
to the media should be coordinated through the PIO or other designated
spokesperson.
(c)No member of this department who is under investigation shall be subjected to media
visits or interviews without the consent of the involved member (Government Code
§ 3303(e)).
(d)Media interviews with individuals who are in custody should not be permitted without
the approval of the Chief of Police and the express consent of the person in custody.
321.3.1 CRITICAL OPERATIONS
A critical incident or tactical operation should be handled in the same manner as a crime scene,
except the media should not be permitted within the inner perimeter of the incident, subject to any
restrictions as determined by the supervisor in charge. Department members shall not jeopardize
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Media Relations
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/10/31, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentMedia Relations - 2a critical incident or tactical operation in order to accommodate the media. All comments to the
media shall be coordinated through a supervisor or the PIO.
321.3.2 TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS
Whenever the presence of media or other aircraft pose a threat to public or member safety
or significantly hamper incident operations, the field supervisor should consider requesting a
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR). All requests for a TFR should be routed through the Watch
Commander. The TFR request should include specific information regarding the perimeter and
altitude necessary for the incident and should be requested through the appropriate control tower.
If the control tower is not known, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) should be contacted
(14 CFR 91.137).
321.4 TRAINING
All Supervisors should attend a minimum 8-hour Media Training class within one year of promotion
or as soon as possible thereafter.
321.5 POLICY
It is the policy of the San Luis Obispo Police Department to protect the privacy rights of individuals,
while releasing non-confidential information to the media regarding topics of public concern.
Information that has the potential to negatively affect investigations will not be released.
321.6 PROVIDING ADVANCE INFORMATION
To protect the safety and rights of department members and other persons, advance information
about planned actions by law enforcement personnel, such as movement of persons in custody
or the execution of an arrest or search warrant, should not be disclosed to the media, nor should
media representatives be invited to be present at such actions except with the prior approval of
the Chief of Police.
Any exceptions to the above should only be considered for the furtherance of legitimate law
enforcement purposes. Prior to approving any exception, the Chief of Police will consider, at
a minimum, whether the release of information or presence of the media would unreasonably
endanger any individual, prejudice the rights of any person, or is otherwise prohibited by law.
321.7 MEDIA REQUESTS
Any media request for information or access to a law enforcement incident shall be referred to
the PIO, or if unavailable, to the first available supervisor. Prior to releasing any information to the
media, members shall consider the following:
(a)At no time shall any member of this department make any comment or release any
official information to the media without prior approval from a supervisor or the PIO.
(b)In situations involving multiple agencies or government departments, every
reasonable effort should be made to coordinate media releases with the authorized
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Media Relations
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/10/31, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentMedia Relations - 3representative of each involved agency prior to the release of any information by this
department.
(c)Under no circumstance should any member of this department make