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General Order B -76 Page 1 of 9 Public Information TEMPLE TERRACE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER EFFECTIVE DATE 04/29/20 05 FILE INDEX NO. B-76 SUBJECT: PUBLIC INFORMATION INDEX AS: MEDIA RELATIONS; PRESS RELEASES;NEWS RELEASES;PIO RESCINDS: REVISES: DATE REVISED : 11/23/2017 DISTRIBUTION ALL MEMBERS I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this General O rder is to define the guidelines that will assist police personnel in making news releases and in providing cooperation and assistance to news media with regard to cases and/or incidents over which the Temple Terrace Police Department has primary jurisdict ion. II. SCOPE: All Members III. DISCUSSION: For the Temple Terrace Police Department to provide effective law enforcement, it must have the support of the community. To achieve this, the public must be informed about law enforcement matters in an open and timely manner. This policy addresses the public information function and establishes procedures for the news media to obtain agency reports and information. Within the limits of the Florida Public Records Law ( Florida Statutes (F.S.) Chapter 119 ), the Temple Terrace Police Department will provide the media with information and reports that will neither hinder nor adversely affect any ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by the agency, or reveal the identity of statutorily protected agency memb ers, their families, crime victims, or juveniles. IV. DEFINITIONS: A. Command Staff – Members of the Temple Terrace Police Department holding the rank of Captain/Commander or above. B. News Media – Members of a daily or weekly newspaper, radio or television station including journalists, photographers, camera persons, videographers, and technicians who are in possession of proper credentials . C. News Incidents -The civil and law enforcement activities of the Police Department in response to newsworthy public events. News incidents do not mean or include discussions of the internal policies of the Chief of Police's Office, personal or political testimonials, or personal or private opinions concerning policy and procedures of the Police Department. The General Order B -76 Page 2 of 9 Public Information Command Staff may discuss official policy, however, only the Chief of Police or his designee may make official comments on internal investigations and other sensi tive matters. D. Public Information Officer (PIO) - The City of Temple Terrace PIO serves as a central source of information for release by the Department and responds to requests for information by the news media and the community. E. Public Records/Public Info rmation - All documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings or other materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of off icial business by any agency member except as specifically restricted herein and/or by state or federal law. F. Shift Supervisor – Sergeant or Corporal in command of an on duty shift or squad. V. PROCEDURES: A. General - Only the Chief of Police , members of the Command Staff, PIO , and those designated by the Chief of Police or a Command Staff Officer are authorized to release information to the news media. On weekends and holidays, media requests will be routed directly to the Shift Supervisor. The Shift Supervis or may contac t the on -call Command Staff Officer , if necessary. B. Public Information Officer (PIO) - The Temple Terrace Police Department has access to a PIO who will upon request: 1. Assist news media representatives covering routine news and at major incident scenes. 2. Be responsible for on -call response to the news media. 3. Prepare an d release agency media releases, including the use of social media. 4. Arrange for and assist at news conferences. 5. Coordinate the release of information about victims, witnesses , suspects, and arrested subjects. 6. Assist during crisis situations within the agency. 7. Coordinate and authorize the release of information concerning confidential information and operations in accordance with state law. 8. Coordinate releasable information to avoid rumors. C. Media Access to Incident Scenes 1. General Access - Properly credenti aled news media representatives who are actively covering an incident at the scene may be allowed closer access for themselves and vehicles than is granted to the general public, provided that such access does not interfere with either the investigation or general traffic flow. Where there is a safety factor or the danger of personal in jury, access may be restricted until the incident commander at the scene determines that the area is safe. 2. Crime Scenes -To preserve the integrity of an investigation, direct access to a crime scene by news media representatives will be allowed only after all known evidence has been processed, and the on -site investigation has been completed. Exceptions, if any, will be made by the Chief of Police, his/her designee, or the police department members serving as the incident commander. Once the crime scene in vestigation has been completed, media access is a matter between the media and the property owner. 3. Hostage or Barricade Situations - The incident commander at the scene shall designate an initial news media briefing area, as soon as practical. Thereafter, the briefing area may be relocate d closer to the scene provided that the incident commander determines that the safety of the news media can be assured. 4. Major Fires, Natural Disasters, or Other Catastrophic