Local Police Departments Partner for Training

Date:     June 18, 2021

Contact: Chief Robert Spinks

Phone: (620) 421-7060

Email:    rspinks@parsonspd.com

On June 17, 2021, the Parsons Police Department partnered with Coffeyville, Independence, and Pittsburg Police Departments to host a Media Relations Training course for local law enforcement, fire personnel, emergency management and government officials. Media Relations Training was presented by Rick Rosenthal, a former Senior News Anchor with WGN-TV Chicago and renowned media trainer and author.

Rosenthal, a 30-year veteran of television and radio media, is a graduate of Princeton University. He has been an instructor for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), the National Sheriffs Association (NSA) and the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety. He wrote a media relations column in Law-and-Order magazine for 7 years and has made multiple media appearances, including on the PBS News Hour with Jim Lehrer.

Rosenthal provided the more than 70 attendees with a day worth of information, tips, and insight into the working relationship between public safety professionals, government officials and the media.  Interacting with the media, as a public servant, is an inevitable occurrence, due to the nature of incidents in emergency services.

"Transparency in government and especially by law enforcement agencies is critical in this day and age," said Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks.

This important training touched upon the release of information, press conferences, conducting media interviews and critical incident management, as well as utilizing the media to get important updates and public safety information out to the citizenry.

"Our profession needs to do a good job getting our story out.  This training helps us improve our relationship with the community and the media, "said Independence Police Chief Jerry Harrison.

Coffeyville Police Chief Kwin Bromley said, "The mainstream media are our partners today. This training helps our agencies recognize the needs of the media while we grow to be as transparent as we can."

Pittsburg Police Chief Brent Narges said, "I was happy to partner with the other area Police Chiefs to bring this high caliber nationally known trainer to our region. I'm looking forward to future training collaborations for our region in the future."

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