Professional Documents
Culture Documents
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to establish guidelines for release and dissemination of public
information to print and broadcast news media.
The Lansing Police Department (LPD), recognizes the public’s right to have access to public records
and the news media’s right to report on matters of public interest. Michigan’s Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) governs access to/and release of public records and information. It is the
policy of the LPD to maintain a cooperative approach to providing information on matters of public
concern to the media and general public. Information will be released to the media without
partiality. Employees of the LPD shall not delay the release of information to favor any particular
news representative.
III. DEFINITIONS
A. Public Information: Information that may be of interest to the general public regarding
policy, procedures, or events involving the Department or other newsworthy information that
is not legally protected, which does not unduly interfere with the mission of the Department,
does not infringe upon the rights of a defendant, or compromise the legitimate safety and
privacy interests of officers, victims, witnesses, others, or ongoing investigations.
B. News Media Representatives: Those individuals who are directly employed by agencies
of the electronic or print media such as radio, television, and newspaper. Freelance workers
in this field are to be regarded as other members of the general public unless otherwise
designated by the Chief of Police.
C. Public Information Officer (PIO): The Department’s PIO serves as a central source of
information for release by the Department and responds to requests for information by the
news media and community.
A. When a request for information from the media is received by any employee of the LPD, the
employee will refer media questions to the PIO, if the PIO is or will be available within a
reasonable length of time. (See IV.,C., below for PIO office hours).
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B. If the PIO is not available, the request will be referred to a supervisor. If the employee’s
supervisor will not be available within a reasonable length of time, the employee may
provide general information to the media that is available to the employee within the
guidelines outlined in this procedure.
NOTE: Release of general information does not include release of restricted written
documents, audio tapes, or video tapes (see V.C.3., below).
C. PIO
Information requests should be made to the PIO during normal PIO business hours Monday
- Friday, 0900 to 1800 hours (excluding Holidays). The PIO is responsible for:
1. Daily contact with the media regarding routine criminal and departmental matters;
2. Arranging interviews and coordinating special requests from the media with other
Departmental personnel;
5. Providing entities designated by the Chief of Police to receive a copy of all press
releases.
D. PIO Callback
If needed, PIO callback may be done to provide information services to the media in the
following types of situations:
1. Homicides.
6. Kidnappings.
7. Serious events such as hazardous material spills, bombings, train derailments, serial
crimes, etc.
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8. Capture of outstanding felony suspects involved in a serious crime when media
cooperation is required.
9. Incidents when no other police employee will be available to handle a media inquiry
on a major event within a reasonable length of time.
10. Any event with significant media interest not directly related to police
responsibilities.
2. As time permits at the scene of an incident or after an incident for which PIO
callback will not be done, the on-duty precinct supervisor/designee will handle
general media inquiries under the guidelines in this procedure.
G. Non-Supervisory Personnel
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Officers and Detectives assigned to a case will not discuss an incident with media
representatives or release any information without the express approval of a supervisor and
within guidelines of this procedure. Media representatives will be referred to a supervisor.
1. The nature of the crime/incident; including location (if private residence, only block
number should be released), date, time, and any narcotics or weapons confiscated.
4. After arraignment or after issuance of a warrant (if not in custody), the accused can
be identified by name and/or photograph if the release will not compromise an
ongoing investigation or the apprehension of the accused.
1. In accordance with the provisions of the CRIME VICTIM RIGHTS ACT (MCL
780.758) and pursuant to section 24 of article I of the State Constitution, which
guarantees crime victims the right to be treated with respect for their dignity and
privacy, the following information relating to “crime victims”, as that term is defined
in the Act, shall not be released:
a. Home address, home telephone number, work address, and work telephone
number.
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2. Any information that could unnecessarily put another person or police personnel at
risk.
4. A Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC) victim’s name, address, and specific location of
the CSC crime if it would reveal the victim’s identity.
6. In incidents involving death, DO NOT release the victim’s name until the next-of-kin
has been notified.
10. Statements concerning potential defense arguments that may be raised in court
proceedings (refer media to the Prosecutor’s Office).
11. Statements concerning inadmissible evidence that may create a substantial risk of
prejudicing an impartial trial.
12. Any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of a defendant in a criminal or civil matter.
13. The identity of the hospital a victim, witness, or accused has been taken to for
treatment (to protect the injured party and/or hospital staff from avoidable
confrontations or distractions).
C. Other Restrictions
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a. LEIN printouts or LEIN data shall not be released to a private party for any
purpose in accordance with MCL 28.214(a).
i. Orders setting aside convictions are nonpublic and available only to a court
of competent jurisdiction or law enforcement agency for limited purposes;
MCL 780.623.
2. Consistent with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.243, the
following items may be exempt from disclosure and such an exemption or denial to
access must be approved by one of the City’s appointed Freedom of Information Act
Officers:
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d. Records relating to a civil action where the requesting party and public body
are parties;
1. The news media will be prohibited from photographing subjects in custody within
restricted areas of the LPD. Personnel may not prohibit photographs of subjects in
custody while in a public place (e.g., while seated in a police vehicle, being escorted
through the lobby of the police building, etc.).
2. The news media will be denied access to any area where the possibility exists that
evidence may be damaged, destroyed, or altered.
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premises. This consent should be voluntary and without coercion.
5. Members of the media will be denied access to any area that would disrupt tactical
police plans or operations or would jeopardize the life of, or present the substantial
possibility of injury to any LPD personnel or citizen. Personnel shall not facilitate
access to private property for media representatives.
B. In all cases where access to an area or information is denied, as outlined in this procedure,
the media representative will be given a prompt and courteous explanation of the reason for
such denial.
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