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Expert: - 6/10/2010


Question
Dear Commander Wagoner,
I am currently a newspaper reporter and occasionally cover the police beat. Recently the city manager asked if I had ever thought about becoming a public information officer for the police department. The PIOs for the city and county law enforcement both are officers but, to my knowledge, don’t have a communications background, which I think is beneficial in that role. I have a BS in journalism and have worked as a reporter for several years. The city manager mentioned if I was interested, I would have to go to police academy. Are law enforcement PIOs typically sworn officers, or can civilians also work in that capacity? I would like to learn more about the steps of getting becoming a PIO in law enforcement. Thank you.

Answer
Hi Nia,

Well you bring up a good point. All the PIO's I have ever seen have been police officers, but I don't think there is any rule anywhere that they have to be one. Interesting point. As of now, you do have to become a police officer to be a PIO, but you, being a reporter, should be able to do little research and talk to some of the agencies in your area and see if they know of any rule stating that a PIO has to be a police officer.

Now I know the reasoning behind it is that you understand the processes, terminology and people better if you are one of the sworn officers, and also from crime scene access, but your point is a good one.

For now you have to be a cop, but I am going to research it a bit and see if there any agency I can find with civilian PIO's.  

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Chris Wagoner

Expertise

I have been a police officer for 30+ years! I am the Police Academy Commander at the Santa Fe College, Institute of Public Safety in Gainesville Florida It is a full service Law Enforcement and Corrections training facility. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I can also answer questions about becoming a law enfocement officer. I have a booklet and web page I have written that answers many questions about how to become a police officer called "So you want to be a cop (police Officer) in Florida?", which is free, Google it.. All you have to do is ask. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and physically handicapped, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how to become a police officer, and questions about why did an officer do this or that type questions. I also like answering any questions you may have about police work in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask! If you do ask a question, PLEASE take the time to at least rate the answer. I do not get paid to answer these questions and do it on my own time. If you ask, please rate it when I answer. Thanks!!! If its a question about becoming a police officer, it may be answered here: http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/ My "hobby" website - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487 Military Videos on YouTube and Facebook!!

Experience

I am a 30+ year veteran police officer, I am currently the Police Academy Commander of an Academy in North FLorida. I have been training police officers since 1993 and have trained them in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms, Driving and legal subjects including patrol techniques and others and training all over the world. I have trained over 5000 officers worldwide in the last 16 years of training.

Publications
I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. Also have written and published on the Internet, "So You Want to be a Cop (Police Officer) in Florida?" you can Google it..

Education/Credentials
I have 2 degrees, in Criminal Justice.

Awards and Honors
Phi Theta Kappa, plus 50+ Departmental Awards over the years. FBI Directors award for assisting in a Nationwide investigation into Child pornography.

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