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GARFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
POLICY / PROCEDURE
GENERAL
SUBJECT: MEDIA INFORMATION
EFFECTIVE DATE: December 15, 2004
POLICY:
The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office will provide accurate and timely
public information that it is legally required to release whenever a
request is made for that information.
PURPOSE:
It is the purpose of this policy to provide guidelines to personnel of
the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office for the release and dissemination
of public information to the various news media outlets and citizens.
DEFINITIONS:
• Public Information: Information that may be of interest to the news
media and/or citizens, which is not legally protected, will not
compromise an investigation, or infringe upon an individual’s rights.
• Public Information Officer (PIO): The Sheriff, or Designee assigned as
the primary source of information released by the Sheriff’s Office, and
as such, responds to requests for information by the news media.
• Designee: Any member of the Sheriff’s Office who has completed a
training course in the release of public information.
METHODS:
Daily Press Information: On approximately a daily basis, a daily press
release, generated by Offense Report information, will be forwarded to
the media through an established list, or to any other media outlet
requesting the information. The Sheriff will usually release this
information.
News Release: Whenever a major criminal event occurs, or an incident
that has high public awareness occurs (i.e. search and rescue mission,
wild land fire, etc.), the shift supervisor shall gather all information
of the incident in order for the Sheriff or designated PIO to release
the information to all interested media outlets. The summary should
include:
• Date, time and location of occurrence
• Type of incident
• Victim’s information including any injuries
• Damage or losses incurred
• Arrest information, regardless of Adult or Juvenile status*
• Suspect information including physical description and/or vehicle
description.
In the event the Sheriff or PIO is unavailable, any member of the
Garfield County Sheriff’s Office trained in the release of public
information may provide the necessary information to the media.
Non-Releasable Information: Certain information should not be released
if it pertains to the following:
• Suspect information in an active case
• Specific details of an investigation that only the suspect would know
• Certain Juvenile information*
• The identity of victims in death investigations prior to notification
of next of kin
• Any other information protected by the Colorado Open Records Act and
the Criminal Justice Records Act
Information Pertaining to Jailed Individuals: At times, the news media
and citizens will request information concerning individuals who are
housed in the Garfield County Jail. The release of this information
shall comply with the Public Information Policy of the Detention
Center*.
Media Activities at Incident Scenes: Members of the Sheriff’s Office
shall extend every reasonable courtesy to the media at incident scenes,
and shall not interfere with the lawful activities of the news media.
However, the media shall not be allowed access to areas that are not
accessible to the general public including areas where evidence has not
been processed, removed and secured.
If approached by the media at a scene, Deputies are encouraged to
respond to questions asked by the media, if they have previously
completed a training course in the release of public information and
feel comfortable releasing the information. If not, or the question is
too specific for them to answer, the Deputy shall direct the media to
the shift supervisor or the on scene investigator. All reasonable
efforts will be made to answer questions asked by the media.
*Release of Records Policy-General
Public Information Policy-Detentions
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Garfield County Sheriff's Office
107 8th St. Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
(970) 945-0453
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