Know-How Exchange : Career/Training

Rachel

Here's a job description for a PR role with the Essex Police (UK).

I presume you're looking at this as an external role, i.e. like a PR consultant? Or is it an internal role?

Either way, you'll need to be able to think on your feet, communicate strategic campaigns clearly, be prepared for tough questions, maintain composure in arduous circumstances and crisis conditions from time to time.

The routine stuff will include using the media to promote Police campaigns targeting various crime types, traffic offences, etc while portraying the Police as approachable, trustworthy, helpful and good value for the taxpayer's dollars.

Hope that helps.

ChrisB

Try Googling...

"police communications manager job description"

You'll find answers like this:
https://www.chandleraz.gov/hr/salaryplan/description.aspx?id=P101

I am a 24 year veteran police officer and retired chief of police. If you're going in for an interview, my first question would be whether you know to whom you will be speaking?

Your responses will be best customized based on who the interviewers will likely be.

I am happy to correspond with you via email about this. Feel free to contact me at tim@performanceinsights.net if you'd like some assistance.

And here's another job description:
https://www.carlsbadca.gov/hr/jdpdf/PoliceCommunicationsManager.pdf

I would suggest that you contact other district's police departments and set up informational interviews of their communications managers. Besides learning the answers from the source, if you mention your research during the interview, you'll be ahead of the game (knowing the "players").

Are you communicating to the dept or the public.

The challenges you have are meshing with the public. There was something on this Sunday morning TV-- something about we, the public disobey the law-- we speed, don't use turn signals, maybe we drove home with more than we knew we should drink. We don't want the police around. But-- of course when we are endangered or victim of a crime, we want them fast and strong.

With internal communication Randall is right that there is a lot of politics involved. building liasons with other groups and task forces are going to be your biggest challenge and key to success.

And don't forget crisis communications, if your job involves any form of PR.