Public Information Officer-Casper Police Department

Incumbent is responsible for acting as a liaison between the Police Department, the public, and the news media. 

REPORTING STRUCTURE:

Receives general supervision from a Police Captain or the Police Chief.

1.Functions as an individual contributor with respect to police public information programs; must apply a significant degree of initiative and independent judgement.

2.Oversees media training of key department spokespersons. 

3.Coordinates media efforts, press conferences (as needed), and public communications during police emergency response events; collaborates with the City’s Public Engagement team (as needed).

4.Establishes, develops, and maintains contact with authorized local, national, and international media, professional and civic organizations, and other special interest groups to promote agency programs.

5.Supports the Chief of Police and Command Staff with prewritten statements and messages for media interviews and appearances.

6.Maintains the Police Department’s website and other social media outlets including developing clear, creative, and compelling content, such as public service announcements.

7.Develops and implements strategic communication plans for community outreach needs in conjunction with the City’s Community Engagement Team.

8.Prepares comprehensive reports and presentations about the Police Department for, the public, community groups, and City Council, at the direction of the Chief of Police.

9.Responds to media inquiries relating to the Police Department and coordinates interviews and timely information response.

10.Participates in the coordination and administration of city communication teams or programs as assigned by the Chief of Police.

11.Represents the City of Casper by responding to the public, citizens, its employees, and others in a prompt, professional, and courteous manner while continuously maintaining a positive customer service demeanor.

12.Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Knowledge (position requirements at entry):
Knowledge of:
•Social media, print, electronic, radio/television, and other media used to distribute public information. 
•AP Writing Style.
•Public and community relations.
•Confidentiality and pertinent privacy laws.
•Customer service principles.
•Public Information Act, its application and compliance requirements.
•Leadership principles.
•Basic math.
•Record keeping and file management principles.
•Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes, and/or statutes.
•Social media platforms and management of those systems.
•Modern office procedures, methods, and use of technological equipment including database management.

Abilities (position requirements at entry):
Ability to:
•Routinely demonstrate the City of Casper core values.
•Follow all City safety rules and procedures and immediately respond to/investigate observations or employee reports of accidents/incidents or unsafe conditions.
•Work a variety of call out times including weekends, nights, and holidays as needed.
•Work professionally and effectively with the public and emergency responders in crisis situations.
•Communicate tactfully and diplomatically with external customers and department personnel at all levels.
•Earn and maintain the trust of employees and the community through transparent communication
•Perform videography, photography, and graphic design.
•Learn local geography, street names, directional orientation, and landmarks.
•Maintain confidentiality.
•Consistently demonstrate integrity in all areas.
•Coordinate events and groups of people, including small and large-scale public events.
•Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals. 
•Organize work to consistently handle multiple tasks simultaneously and ensure that workflow and administrative requirements are completed in an efficient and timely manner. 
•Organize records in an easily retrievable fashion.
•Operate a variety of modern office equipment and tools.
•Work independently on a variety of tasks simultaneously in the absence of supervision. 
•Create presentations and speak in public.
•Maintain a neat and professional appearance. 
•Communicate effectively verbally and in writing. 
•Follow written and verbal instructions and direction.
•Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Skills (position requirements at entry):
Skill in:
•Extensive interpersonal skills required to respond to non-routine and/or technical questions and complaints.
•Coordinating events and groups of people.
•Dealing in a courteous, knowledgeable, and tactful manner with staff and general public. 
•Working on several projects or issues simultaneously.
•Program and project management.
•Technical writing.
•Public speaking.
•Conflict resolution.
•Marketing.
•Maintaining a calm composure in crisis situations.
•Explaining legal processes in common terms.
•Working independently in the absence of supervision.
•Gathering information; preparing articles, graphics, and pictures for newsletters and publications online and print formats.
•Oral and written communication, sufficient to exchange or convey effective information and to receive work direction. 
•Adobe Creative Suite.
•Editing professional videos.
•Training others in how to effectively speak with the media.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 
•High school diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) required.
•Minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in public or media relations, writing-intensive position preferable in related function. 
•Public sector/local government experience preferred.
•Associate’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as listed below. 
•Bachelor’s degree preferred.
•Bilingual Spanish/English skills preferred.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:
•Possession of a valid Wyoming Driver’s License preferred.

The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.

Employment with the City of Casper is contingent upon a successful background screen and pre-employment drug test.  Applicants who have failed a pre-employment screen or have been terminated from the City of Casper are ineligible for employment consideration for 12 months. You will become eligible for consideration 12 months from the date of your incident (pre-employment screen or termination). 

As a condition of employment, the successful candidate must utilize direct deposit for payroll purposes.  

Driving records are required for all new employees regardless of the position's driving requirements. If the employee has not held a Wyoming driver's license for the last three years, the employee must provide at their own initiation and expense a driving record from their previous state(s) of residence.

Physical and Environmental Conditions:  

City of Casper employees in data creation and modification, security sensitive or safety and protective positions are subject to pre-employment drug testing. Some employees may be subject to random drug testing if their responsibilities include: 

• Emergency response/rescue
• Handling or working with hazardous materials, including chemicals as well as solid and liquid waste
• Operating or maintaining water and wastewater systems
• Writing or modifying code, maintaining or modifying City data systems including work on networks, servers, and communication systems
•  CDL operations and driving
•  Operating power-driven machinery or equipment
•  Creating or modifying health, financial, security and or risk documents or assessments
•  Working with or directing minors 

Positions in this class typically require stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Incumbents in this position typically work indoors in an office environment and are subject to the common noises associated with office work including telephones, copiers, and printers. The position requires frequent sitting, typing, and customer contact, both by telephone and in person.

Salary : $60,215 - $84,300