Public Safety Information Officer

With minimal oversight, this civilian role serves as a bridge between the Annapolis Police Department, the community, and the media, ensuring the public is well-informed about the department's initiatives, achievements, and stance on contemporary matters. Duties include strategizing, researching, crafting, and circulating public information, press releases, public service announcements, promotional content, and educational resources. Additionally, the position entails daily social media updates with a police report and email distribution list management.

Furthermore, involvement in recruitment media activities is part of the responsibilities. Reporting to the Office of the Chief, the role also encompasses other relevant tasks as needed. This is an exempt position and quasi essential job working 40 hours per week.(

Note:

The duties and responsibilities enumerated in this job description are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications and salary level for all positions in this class. They are not intended to include all the job duties of all positions in the job classification. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.)

• Establishes and maintains effective and productive working relationships with media representatives (TV, print, radio, social media, etc.), public officials, public agency representatives, special interest groups and the general public;
• Plans, researches, develops, coordinates and implements programs, events, strategies and activities to promote a positive image of the Police Department;
• Researches available resources and best practice initiatives for communicating police events and other information to the public;
• Manages media relations for the department responding to media inquiries on routine, emergency, sensitive and controversial matters;
• Manages the Department’s social media presence;
• Maintains Police Department section of the City’s website to ensure it is up to date and relevant;
• Coordinates news conferences;
• Develops and issues news releases, statements, fact sheets and other informational materials;
• Serves as a resource for and coaches Department employees with media inquiries as needed;
• Monitors news coverage of City activities, programs, policies and actions;
• Maintains file of media regarding the Department;
• Interacts with professional and technical staff, community groups, other government agencies, businesses, and other sources to keep the public informed of pertinent incidents, situations or events;
• Conducts television, radio, newspaper or social media interviews as directed;
• Coordinates with other local, State and federal public information personnel;
• Attends meetings as directed;
• Establishes and maintains a historical record of significant Department related events and activities;
• Assists with requests covered by the Maryland Public Information Act;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Knowledge of pertinent City, State and Federal regulations;
• Knowledge of advertising and publicity techniques;
• Knowledge of the principles, techniques and methods of public relations, marketing and communications;
• Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, and the democratic political process;
• Knowledge of the principles of governmental organization, regulations, laws and administration as it relates to the position;
• Knowledge of social media platforms such as, but not limited to Nextdoor, Tik Tok and Snapchat;
• Skilled in the…