Creating and Maintaining Community Trust

Establishing community trust before an emergency or critical incident is paramount to maintaining trust with the citizens you serve. During a three-year period, the HCSO responded to three active shooter incidents, including one that took the lives of two deputies. The sheriff’s office has faced public relations challenges with First Amendment Auditors and agency members charged with crimes. While each situation has been unique, the importance of maintaining trust with our community and agency members has remained the same—be open and honest. Police train and plan tactical operations scenarios all the time—but do they include their PIO in those trainings? These incidents are critical for building and maintaining trust and transparency to both the workforce and those we are sworn to protect.