Day in the Life of a Public Information Officer at the Fairbanks Police Department *Registration Still Open*

Sep 19, 2017 | Event, Fairbanks Luncheon

Registration for this event is still open!

In journalism, if it bleeds, it leads. Crime and related stories account for the top news stories of the day. It’s up to the public information officers for the police department help tell the story of the brave men and women who risk their lives to keep our community safe while maintaining the balance of the public’s right to know without jeopardizing ongoing investigations.

Join PRSA-Alaska in Fairbanks to get the behind the scenes look at how public information officers at the Fairbanks Police Department communicate with the media and news outlets. Find out how Yumi McCulloch and Officer Doug Wellborn coordinate releasing information and interviews from the police department as well as family members and witnesses as well as preparing press releases, social media or informational reports. Get a behind the scenes look into an Officer Involved Shooting incident.

In this PRSA-Alaska presentation, you will learn:

  • Releasing information on a police incident involves a lot of factors. The type of event, whether the event is currently happening, just resolved or ongoing affect what can and will be released.  The Department must be mindful of the integrity of the case, public safety and the victims involved while getting the information to the media and public.
  • How does Social Media affect police incidents? How does FPD utilize the different types of Social Media?
  • FPD’s policies, procedures, Chain of Command and workflow are being refined with every incident and how that process happens.

Yumi McCulloch, Admin Assistant/PIO/DMT Supervisor, has lived in the Fairbanks area since 1974.  She has been employed at the Fairbanks Police Department since July 2003.  She is currently the Administrative Assistant for Chief Jewkes, primary FPD PIO and the Data Management Supervisor. She has been in the PIO portion of her role since July of 2016.  She previously worked at City Hall, Fairbanks Community Mental Health Center and Westmark Hotels.

Officer Doug Welborn has lived in Fairbanks since 1988.  He has been employed Fairbanks Police Department since August, 2003.  He previously worked for the Department of Corrections and the University Fire Department.  Officer Welborn has functioned as a department liaison since 2011 and filled primary and backup PIO roles beginning June 2015.

 

Event Details

Price:

  • $34 PRSA members
  • $44 Non-Members

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017
Time: Noon to 1 p.m. (Doors open at 11:30 a.m.)
Location: Westmark Fairbanks Hotel & Conference Center