Policy Statement:

It is the policy of the Saint Paul Police Department to work with legitimate members of the news media to release public information to all media outlets, in a fair and timely manner at all times. Since a free press is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, no department personnel will obstruct the news media from reporting on police activities, as long as reporters obey the law in carrying out their mission. The news media is essential to a free society, and police personnel will maintain a courteous, professional demeanor when dealing with media personnel.

Official Information Sources:

News media information on department activities is available from the following sources:

  •  Public information officer
  •  Office of the chief
  •  Watch commander
  •  Records unit (via police reports)

All department sworn and civilian personnel are prohibited from voicing opinions to the news media on department matters without the permission of the chief, the public information officer or one of their designees.

Responsibility for the Release of Information:

  1. The Office of the chief will approve all written news releases. Such releases must be forwarded to all news media outlets that regularly cover department activities.
  2. The chief of police, the public information officer or an officially designated person will handle media interviews relating to incidents. A spokesperson, chosen by the chief or police or the public information officer, will brief the media, prepare and distribute news releases, and provide updates when possible.
  3. Only the chief of police or a designee will comment on ongoing investigations.
  4. The public information officer, the office of the chief, the watch commander or the records unit, will distribute routine incident information. The Minnesota Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statute Chapter 13 and Minnesota Statutes 13.43, 13.82, General Order 235.00: Data Practices) will be followed when distributing data.
  5. Arrest data is released by the PIO, the watch commander, a designee from the office of the chief or the records unit.
  6. Ramsey County Sheriffs Identification Unit handles the release of booking photos and criminal histories. Booking photos are to be released after a suspect has been charged, or with the consent of the investigator working on the case, their supervisor or at the discretion of the chief of police.
  7. Department policy questions will be answered at the discretion of the chief of police or designee. Sworn or civilian personnel may be asked to respond to such inquiries by the chief of police, his designee or the public information officer. Responses will be factually based and free from personal points of view. If a response has the potential to adversely reflect upon the department, the office of the chief will be notified and a response will be crafted by the chief of police and the public information officer.
  8. With input from relevant sources, including assistant chief, deputy chiefs, senior commanders, commanders and the public information officer, the chief of police will make all decisions on what information to release, when to release it and how to release it during on-going incidents and investigations, particularly ones that are recurring in the news media. The chief of police will also make similar decisions when the department proactively announces information to the media.
  9. All department sworn and civilian personnel must obtain approval from the communications director, the chief of police or his designee prior to conducting interviews with the news media.
  10. Senior commanders, watch commander and unit commanders are expected to inform the chief of police, their deputy chief and the public information officer in a timely manner about any incident or investigation that will likely draw attention from the media. This sharing of information includes developments in on-going cases, such as the imminent arrest of a suspect or the filing of a search warrant.
  11. As long as it does not interfere substantially with their day-today duties, it is the responsibility of sworn and civilian personnel to conduct interviews with the media when requested to by the chief of police, the public information officer or a designee from the chief of police.

Media Ride Along:

News media reporters requesting a ride along with a squad car should put their request in writing to the chief of police. The ride along can only be approved by the chief and/or a designee.

Updated January 14, 2019

Last Edited: January 14, 2019