LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING ACCURATE, LAWFUL INFORMATION WITHOUT REGARD FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS, WHICH ARE DISTINCT FROM PUBLIC INFORMATION. THE UNITED STATE'S TRADITION OF A FREE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW PREDATES THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. IN 1973, THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS RECOMMENDED THAT EACH POLICE AGENCY DESIGNATE AN OFFICER OR UNIT TO MAINTAIN REGULAR MEDIA LIAISON, BUT NOT ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE DONE THIS. A PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (PIO) SELECTED ACCORDING TO CRITERIA SET AT THE FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY, SHOULD HANDLE SUCH DUTIES AS BEING THE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN, HANDLING MEDIA RELATIONS, PROVIDING MEDIA TRAINING TO DEPARTMENT MEMBERS, DEVELOPING PUBLIC SERVICE DOCUMENTARIES, COUNSELING DEPARTMENT STAFF, HANDLING IN-HOUSE MEDIA, COORDINATING NEWS MEDIA PASSES, AND ARRANGING EXCHANGE VISITS BETWEEN AGENCY STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEDIA LEADERS. PIO DUTIES SHOULD NOT INCLUDE BEING A COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER. NEWS RELEASES SHOULD BE CLEAR, EASY TO UNDERSTAND, AND SIMPLY ORGANIZED ACCORDING TO THE INVERTED PYRAMID STYLE. THE PIO SHOULD PREPARE ALL DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL TO HANDLE SUCH SITUATIONS AS AN IMPROMPTU MEDIA CONFERENCE AT THE SCENE OF A CRIME. INSTEAD OF A 'NO COMMENT' POLICY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SHOULD ALLOW ANY OF THEIR MEMBERS TO SPEAK ABOUT MATTERS DIRECTLY INVOLVING THEMSELVES. RELATIONS BETWEEN THE AGENCY AND THE MEDIA WHICH ARE FRANK, COOPERATIVE, AND CONDUCTED WITH MUTUAL RESPECT, ARE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF BOTH THE POLICE AND THE PRESS. FOOTNOTES INCLUDING REFERENCES, AND A DIAGRAM OF THE INVERTED PYRAMID NEWS STYLE, ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)