Divisions | Office of the Chief | Public Information
Jessica Mayorga 203- 946-7660
Director of Communications, City Of New Haven
The Department has an obligation to report on its activities to the public it serves. In doing so, it maintains the public's trust, cooperation and support. What the police do and how they do it, as well as crime and the results of it, are all matters of public interest and continuing concern. Respecting the public's right to know and protecting the confidentiality and privacy of certain information, especially with regard to police investigations so that a criminal prosecution is not jeopardized, is a constant consideration. It is important to the Department that the public is aware of how the Department functions, the police role, how the community can work in partnership with the police, and, has access to information about the occurrence of crime - who, what, where, when, why, and how. The majority of the time, this is accomplished through the news media. Using the media is a valuable resource to help keep the public informed. As a result, it is essential that the Department maintains a working relationship with the media to promote communication.
The Office of Public Information was formally established to improve the Department's response to matters of public interest. It functions to provide more direct access to the Department and police-related information to inform and educate the public. The position of Public Information Officer (PIO) was created as a full-time civilian position in 1990 to provide a chief spokesperson for the Department on a consistent basis. Prior to establishing the position, the role of such was filled by assignment of sworn personnel. The PIO reports directly to the Chief of Police and coordinates response to media inquiries, provides information about crime incidents, the Department, its functions, policies and procedures, programs, services, and related events.
It is the PIO's responsibility to :
- Maintain contact with local media and provide information in accordance with law and department policy (conduct news conferences, interviews, prepare press releases, process press parking passes, etc...)
- Maintain a close working relationship with heads of various Department operational units, (e.g. Patrol, Investigative Services, etc...)
- Work closely with the Chief of Police and others to promote the image of the Department
- Coordinate with counterparts in and outside city government in activities of mutual interest and concern
- The Office of Public Information operates Monday thru Friday, from 8:30am to 4:30pm. After normal business hours, media inquiries are handled as detailed in the Department's press policy.
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