THE BOOK IS DESIGNED FOR USE BY POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF ALL SIZES, BUT IT IS DIRECTED AT MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE REGULARLY CONFRONTED WITH A VARIETY OF COMPLEX PUBLIC INFORMATION POLICY ISSUES. HOW WELL THESE DEPARTMENTS RESPOND TO THOSE ISSUES EFFECTS THEIR SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES OF PROTECTION OF LIFE, PROPERTY, AND MAINTENANCE OF ORDER. SOME OF THE TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEDIA POLICE DEPARTMENTS MUST DEAL WITH, PRETRIAL PUBLICITY GUIDELINES, AND BASIC POLICY ISSUES. GIVEN PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER AS AN INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND THE NEWS MEDIA. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE METHODS OF CONDUCTING NEWS CONFERENCES AND INTERVIEWS, PREPARING NEWS RELEASES, AND SUPPLYING PUBLIC INFORMATION DURING DISASTERS AND DISORDERS. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN INFORMATION ON IDENTIFICATION FOR THE MEDIA, TIPS FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS, AND NOTES ON RELEASING INFORMATION....KAP