307 – Public and Media Information

Question 1

Police information has an extremely sensitive aspect which must balance two major concerns.

Answer 1

the constitutional guarantees involving the rights to access by the public

and the right of privacy belonging to each individual.

Question 2

Mandates from____ bear upon the dissemination of information in
that they stipulate certain information agencies must divulge or protect.

Answer 2

The Texas Open Records Act and the Family Code

Question 3

has the following responsibilities:

1. Releasing to the media, as soon as practical, any factual information listed under Subsection .05A;
2. Designating a press area;
3. Allowing access to crime scenes as soon as practical;
4. Protecting the interests of owners or agents on whose private property a crime scene exists; and
5. Delegating the responsibility for the release of information under Subsection .05A.

Answer 3

The ranking officer at the scene of an incident

Question 4

may release information listed under Subsection .05A on a police incident which does not require the
presence of a Supervisory Officer (i.e., major accidents, fires, etc.).

Answer 4

Any officer

Question 5

has the responsibility to coordinate media activities involving the various official functions of the Department at scenes of major police incidents.

Answer 5

The Police Media Services Detail

Question 6

has the following responsibility at scenes of major police incidents:

1. Limiting media personnel to those areas which will not interfere with operational functions and access to the location;
2. Establishing and marking an information dissemination point or press area;
3. Arranging interviews with appropriate personnel if and when feasible; and
4. Preparing a written news release, if necessary

Answer 6

The Police Media Services Detail

Question 7

The following information may be released regarding a police incident:

Answer 7

a. Location of the offense/incident;

b. Premises involved;

c. Time of occurrence;

d. A brief summary of the offense/incident;

e. Identification and description of a complainant (note exceptions in Section .06);

f. General description of a suspect (note exceptions in Section .06);

g. General description and/or license number of a suspect’s vehicle may be released if it does not compromise
the investigation;

h. General description of the property involved. Avoid descriptions which detail the evidence and which
hinder the investigation; and/or

i. Identification of investigating officers, without compromising an undercover operation

Question 8

The Officer delegated the responsibility of releasing information consults with a Supervisory Officer before
releasing information____

Answer 8

not covered by this procedure.

Question 9

The release of information at major crime scenes or incidents is coordinated with ____to ensure crime scene integrity.

Answer 9

the proper investigative unit

Question 10

Information regarding internal investigations is released through:

Answer 10

the Police Media Services Detail or a
representative designated by the Chief of Police.

Question 11

Information regarding Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) citywide statistics is released

Answer 11

only through the Police
Media Services Detail.

Question 12

Information regarding the interpretation of departmental policy or procedures is released through

Answer 12

the Police Media Services Detail or a representative designated by the Chief of Police.

Question 13

Information regarding internal investigations

and

Information regarding the interpretation of departmental policy or procedures

s released through

Answer 13

the Police Media Services Detail or a representative designated by the Chief of Police

Question 14

The following information in connection with police incidents is not released:

Answer 14

a. The name of a complainant or victim who is deceased or seriously injured, until a surviving relative has been notified;

b. The name of a complainant who has been involved in any type of sexual offense;

c. The name of a suspect, until the suspect has been booked in a jail facility or formal charges have been filed;

d. Identification and description of witnesses;

e. The existence or contents of statements, oral admissions, or oral confessions made by a suspect or apprehended person;

f. Personal opinions about the suspect and/or information on evidence;

g. Statements concerning the testimony or the truthfulness of witnesses; and

h. Photographs of any person who is a suspect or arrested person which are taken for purposes of investigatory or criminal history record information in an ongoing investigation.

Question 15

Any officer encountering a citizen or media representative who is not satisfied with the officer’s response to a request for ____ should refer the citizen or media representative to the officer’s immediate supervisor

Answer 15

non-releasable information

Question 16

Requests from the public or media for release of the home address or phone number of any member of the Department are referred to

Answer 16

the Police Media Services Detail.

Question 17

Any requests from outside the Department for release of information from departmental administrative or field files
are referred to

Answer 17

Accounting and Personnel Office.

Question 18

Members of the media requesting to ride in a police vehicle to a police incident shall make the request through the ____, with final approval obtained through the Office of the Chief of Police.

Answer 18

Police Media Services Detail,

Question 19

Officers should not restrict the movement of media personnel unless their actions ____ interfere with police operations or investigations. The mere ____ does not constitute unlawful interference.

Answer 19

clearly and directly
/
presence of media personnel, the taking of pictures, or the asking of questions

Question 20

Photographs may be taken in or from ____ or officially designated areas. Officers may restrict the use of flash or bright lighting when their use may hinder police operations.

Answer 20

any public access

Question 21

No member of the media shall have any property seized or ____without due process of law (i.e., cameras, videotapes, film, notes, etc.).

Answer 21

threatened with confiscation