Police Chief Magazine|Columns|President's Message
President’s Message: The Critical Role of Public Relations and PIOs

Media and public relations are critical in policing because they help shape perception, build trust, share public safety information, and foster community partnerships.

The key component in this is leaders’ ability to understand and manage their communication strategies. This task becomes more complex in instances that are multi-jurisdictional or when an agency either does not have a full-time public information officer (PIO) or the PIO is not specifically assigned to the agency, such as a municipal PIO who has responsibilities for a larger governmental entity.

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President’s Message: Year in Review

As I complete my term as IACP president, I feel incredibly grateful for all the experiences I have had throughout the year that will stay with me for my lifetime. I first got involved in the IACP beca...
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President’s Message: Police Play an Important Role in Ensuring Democracy

For generations, elections in the United States were remarkably peaceful. People in most communities went to local schools or municipal buildings to cast votes in elections organized by counties and s...
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President’s Message: Combating Hate and Fear in Our Communities

Hate crimes and hate incidents are heinous acts that demand immediate attention, response, and resolution whenever possible. What makes hate crimes so malicious is that their impact spreads far beyond...
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President’s Message: Safety and Civil Rights at Mass Demonstrations

College campuses have long been central sites for debate and action on a variety of social causes. While protests, mass demonstrations, and rallies are not new issues for police, the ways we respond t...
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President’s Message: High-Risk Operational Planning

As I write this, we are coming up to National Police Week. By the time this is printed, this solemn week will have passed. We will have honored those who sacrificed for their communities and our chose...
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President’s Message: Culture of Wellness

When I first joined the law enforcement profession more than 30 years ago, conversations regarding officer safety and well-being, particularly when it came to mental health and resiliency, rarely occu...
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President’s Message: AI’s Transformative Impact

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly prevalent in policing, impacting the way we approach crime prevention, investigations, and community safety. AI technology and its applications hav...
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President’s Message: Inclusion and Representation in the IACP

In the over 100 years that have lapsed since the entrance of women into the policing profession, much has changed. From skirts, heels, and administrative responsibilities to tactical wear, enforcement...
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President’s Message: Trust Building Campaign

Trust is the cornerstone of any successful relationship between the police and the communities they serve. Trust fosters cooperation, open communication, and a sense of safety within the community. ...
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President’s Message: Current Drug Trends Demand a Comprehensive Strategy

We are amid an unprecedented fatal and nonfatal overdose epidemic, and in my over 30 years of law enforcement experience, the devastation and violent crime resulting from illicit drugs—from their ma...
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