CRIME PREVENTION THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE CRIME PREVENTION AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
businesses, and public displays at
press releases, coordinating news
community events like the Mid-State
conferences, and serving as the primary
Fair. While unable to present in person
spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office.
to students in class, the Crime Prevention Unit was able to offer educational material and handouts for both concerned parents and their children. In addition to providing outreach to the community, the Crime Prevention Unit is also responsible for CPR and First Aid
is a unit within the Operations Division,
certification for staff and volunteers
dedicated to increasing public safety
within the Sheriff’s Office.
through education and community
THE MISSION OF THE
engagement. In 2021 the unit was comprised of a public information officer and two crime prevention specialists. The crime prevention specialists are available to support all Neighborhood
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (PIO) IS TO INFORM THE COMMUNIT Y ABOUT
Watch programs in the unincorporated
THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE .
areas of the county. To meet the needs
TO EXPL AIN WHAT THE
of the public during COVID-19 pandemic, many of these informative presentations were provided virtually on an online platform. In addition, the crime prevention specialists are respon-
SHERIFF’S OFFICE DOES
In 2021, San Luis Obispo County received an extraordinary amount of international media coverage when the Sheriff’s Office made an arrest in the almost 25-year-old case of missing Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. A news conference was held on the day of the arrest which was picked up by media outlets like the New York Times, Dateline NBC, CNN, People Magazine, and even the Daily Mail in London, England. The PIO coordinated all aspects of this major announcement, from crafting the press release to organizing the news conference. The PIO is also responsible for the design and content of the Sheriff’s Office official website, slosheriff.org as
AND PERHAPS MORE
well as its mobile app. In addition, the
IMPORTANTLY, WHY
Crime Prevention Unit and PIO coordi-
THEY DO IT.
nate social media efforts on behalf of
sible for the following: the Sheriff’s
the Sheriff’s Office, including
Auxiliary Volunteer Patrol unit,
The PIO serves as the primary contact
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and
children’s safety programs like the
for local, state, national, and interna-
Instagram. All of these efforts are
Sheriff’s Youth Summer Camps,
tional media for any news items that
designed to keep citizens informed and
internet safety programs for youth,
directly relate to the Sheriff’s Office.
involved in the events happening in
security surveys for homes and
That includes writing and distributing
their communities.
56
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
