THE DUTIES OF THE POLICE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER ARE DELINEATED AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT PUBLIC INFORMATION PLAYS IN POLICING IS DESCRIBED. SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES ARE SUGGESTED FOR PREPARING NEWS RELEASES, PREPARING RADIO AND TELEVISION MATERIALS, PRESS CONFERENCES, INTERVIEWS, AND OTHER PUBLIC INFORMATION MATERIALS, SUCH AS PINS AND BUTTONS, MASS TRANSIT ADVERTISING, AND BROCHURES AND PAMPHLETS. GUIDELINES FOR NEWS DISSEMINATION COMPATIBLE WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE SUBJECT (SUSPECT OR DEFENDANT) ARE PRESENTED FOR DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. THE AUTHOR, A POLICE INFORMATION OFFICER WITH THE TACOMA (WA) POLICE DEPARTMENT, ADDRESSES PROBLEMS INHERENT IN PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND PRESENTS WAYS TO RESOLVE AND AVOID POLICEMEDIA CONFLICTS. THE FINAL CHAPTERS DISCUSS THE OPERATION OF A POLICE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SWORN AND CIVILIAN PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS. THE TEXT IS ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND COPIES OF MEDIA UTILIZATION TECHNIQUES AS WELL AS SAMPLE PRESS RELEASES AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ANNOUNCEMENTS. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH CHAPTER. (SNI ABSTRACT)