SACRAMENTO STATE
Police Communication Protocol
Problem Statement
• The Sacramento State Police Department recognizes
that a communication protocol is essential to ensure
a coordinated and informed approach to media and
public relations activity. Equally, to prevent
confusion on areas of responsibility it is necessary to
consider the key roles of the respective parties. The
protocol is designed to ensure a good working
relationship with the community and also to
maximize the opportunity to promote and enhance
awareness of shared messages on crime reduction,
performance and community reassurance.
Objectives
• To enhance the transparency, quality, timeliness and
accuracy of public information.
• To promote a close working relationship between
department personnel and the community.
• To promote and enhance awareness of shared
messages on crime reduction, performance and
community reassurance.
• To reduce the possibility of
conflicting messages issued due to
lack of advance communication
between parties.
Team Members
• Chief Mark Iwasa, Police Department - PIO
• Serena Fuson, Police Department - Project Lead
• All Personnel, Police Department - Suppliers
Project Timeline & Milestones
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Defined the process/project goal.
Defined the significant suppliers to the process.
Defined the inputs.
Defined the desired process.
Defined the outputs.
Defined the customers.
Findings
• The Sacramento State Police Department’s
process/project goal is to post non-emergency
information to the community.
• The significant suppliers include the Chief (PIO), the
Police Communication Protocol Project Lead,
Lieutenants, Sergeants, Corporals, Detectives,
Officers, Dispatchers and Administrative Personnel.
• The inputs include non-emergency information,
photographs, and video.
• The desired process is releasing relevant nonemergency information to the community from the
Sacramento State Police Department.
Findings Continued
• The outputs include community postings via email,
the department webpage, Facebook, Twitter,
SacSend, press releases, written statements,
interviews, verbal statements, press conferences,
statutory information (annual report), public
campaigns, internal communications and public
information posters.
• The customers include faculty, staff, students,
alumni, media stations (news) and the extended
community.
Solutions
• Department personnel receive word of a nonemergency incident that could be helpful if released
to the community.
• The information is sent to the Police Communication
Protocol Project Lead.
• A decision is made whether to send information
physically and/or electronically.
• A draft is created which includes information,
pictures and/or video.
• The draft is sent to the Chief/PIO for approval.
• Edits are made if needed.
Solutions Continued
• Information is posted.
• The process is complete when the non-emergency is
no longer perceived as an impact to the community.
Results
• By implementing the new Police Communication
Protocol, the Sacramento State Police Department
has maximized its opportunity to promote and
enhance awareness, while at the same time ensuring
a good working relationship with the community.
Results Continued
The department has also increased its reach with the
community via social media:
Social Media
Facebook
Twitter
Pre (July 2012)
832
103
Post (May 2013)
16,254
944