Transparency and the Public Information Officer can be Symbiotic!

 The Public Information Officer's primary responsibility is to provide information to the public about their organization. However, there have previously been allegations that Public Information Officers have been a hindrance at the least and obstructionist at their worst.  Public Information Officer working in the construct of a law enforcement agency there are policies, procedures, and legal barriers that require careful navigation. In most cases that navigation is based upon an incident. 

Law Enforcement Agencies in today's environment are constantly striving for transparency, 

 accountability, and connection with the communities to which they serve.  Agencies, that strive for these three goals are not building that connection to their communities in a single event. The agencies are building that relationship, connection, and trust on a daily. The success of any agency achieving these lofty goals is through strong leadership,  a clear strategic plan, and daily interactions by staff with members of the community. 

The quickest way the efforts of a law enforcement agency's work in
transparency, accountability, and connection to their community breaks down is when trust is broken. That simply means when an incident occurs resulting in the public questioning transparency and accountability that connection begins to break down. That means as the Public Information Officer, your responsibility is to provide counsel to the leadership on potential implications of multiple arrays of action that could be taken by the agency. But, ultimately, the agency that values, transparency and accountability must recognize that "owning" the event is paramount.  By "Owning" the event, taking responsibility for it shows to the public you value transparency and accountability and the connection to the community may be strained, but the connection still exists. 

Let's be realistic the incident we are talking about is most definitely a crisis situation. This means as the Public Information Officer should have developed crisis plans ahead of time. By having plans prepared ahead of time you thinking strategically and with clarity,.

The Public Information Officer then must work with leadership to craft language which will address three facts. 

1. That as an agency you care about what has happened. 
2. What action will be taken to correct or address the concern
3. Placing the incident in perspective and where do you go in the future

The Public Information Officer can provide transparency and accountability to the community while maintaining the responsibilities of their office simultaneously.  But to be successful, the Public Information Officer must be strategic in the preparation and execution of any crisis communication plans.  

• Develop your crisis communications plan and include as many potential crises as imaginable. 
• Develop questions that would be asked for each of the potential crises. 
• Craft your messaging. Most of all chose your words carefully.

As you work through your strategic plan and develop your crisis plan, continue to develop relationships with other Public Information Officers. They are valuable resources that may be contacted in the future for guidance or to render aid during a major incident.

The goals of the Public Information Officer are to promote open communication with the public and to inform the community on matters of public safety. The goal is to always be as transparent as possible and to be accountable for the agency's actions. Last, remember the incidents you inform the public most likely involve tragedy. Be compassionate, human, and concerned.