Media Relations

325.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This policy provides guidelines for the release of official Sheriff's office information to the media. It also addresses coordinating media access to scenes of disasters, criminal investigations, emergencies and other law enforcement activities.

325.2 POLICY

It is the policy of the Vigo County Sheriff's Office to protect the privacy rights of individuals when 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.

325.3 RESPONSIBILITIES

The ultimate authority and responsibility for the release of information to the media shall remain with the Sheriff. In situations not warranting immediate notice to the Sheriff and in situations where the Sheriff has given prior approval, Commanders, Supervisors, deputies and designated personnel may prepare, complete the appropriate form (see attachment) and release information to the media in accordance with this policy and applicable laws regarding confidentiality.

Completed copies of the form should be forwarded as soon as practical to the Patrol Commander, Sheriff or the authorized designee.

Most situations where the media show a strong interest are also of interest to the Sheriff, the affected Commander and the County. The following list of incident types is provided as a guide for notification and is not intended to be all-inclusive:

Officer-involved shooting, whether on- or off-duty (see the Officer-Involved Shootings and Deaths Policy for special notification)
Homicides, suspicious deaths or deaths related to law enforcement activity
Crimes of unusual violence or circumstances that may include hostages, barricaded persons, home invasions, armed robbery or sexual assaults
At-risk missing children or missing endangered adults
In-custody deaths
Aircraft, train, boat or other transportation accidents with major damage and/or injury or death
Traffic accidents with fatalities or severe injuries
Death of a prominent Vigo official
Significant injury or death to a member of the Sheriff's Office, whether on- or off-duty
Arrest of a member of the Sheriff's Office or prominent Vigo official
Equipment failures, utility failures and incidents that may affect staffing or pose a threat to basic sheriff's services