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Course detail: Enhancing Your Media and Social Media Presence

Course Description:

Missouri POST Control Number 31731

Law enforcement leaders and aspiring leaders often overlook the critical role public information plays in maintaining safety and support in their communities. In this course, instructors who are seasoned public information officers - both sworn and non-sworn - will help participants understand everything from legal liability, to what's newsworthy, to what drives social media engagement. Students will participate in hands-on scenarios and will be able to walk away prepared to effectively provide public information in a variety of incidents, as well as how to use traditional and social media to build trust with the people you serve.

Course Objectives:

Identify legal liability and investigative issues in relation to public information.
Write and distribute a news release.
Conduct an effective news conference and/or media briefing for a variety of incidents.
Identify public record laws in relation to criminal records and public documents.
Create engaging website and social media content for their agency.
Identify and address misinformation on social media.
Demonstrate an effective response to First Amendment "auditors."
Provide public information in a critical incident through a variety of communication channels.

Agenda:

Media Relations

Release of information and liability
What is newsworthy?
News releases
News conferences and media briefings
Kansas and Missouri Sunshine Laws
Redaction exercise
Officer-involved shootings
Line-of-duty death

Social Media

Your website Social media policy
Supervisory issues with social media
Different platforms and uses
Social media misinformation and fake news
Social media content strategy and ideas
Community engagement
First Amendment "auditors"

Putting it all together: Case study of shooting at Chiefs victory rally
Table-top Exercise

Course Requirements:

100% participation and attendance

The Missouri POST Program has approved this course for "Approved Provider" training credit for 22 hours, Interpersonal: 15.5; Legal Studies: 2.5; Skills Development: 2.5; Technical Studies: 1.5

Fitness Requirements and Expectation of Physical Risk: Sedentary

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend University of Kansas sponsored events. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in an event, please email CPSL or call 620.694.1401 at least three weeks before the first day of the event. Some events may require notice earlier than three weeks and require you contact a specific individual; if so, that information is provided in the event-specific information.

Session Information: SL27012W

Schedule:

Every day, starting on 09/22/26 and ending on 09/24/26

Times:

08:00am-05:00pm CDT

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Price:

Registration Fee : $595.00

Bulletin

Participants are responsible for their own snacks, drinks, meals, lodging and travel. Please dress in layers, as the temperature in the room may be difficult to adjust. The session begins at 8:00AM each day and is estimated to end at 5:00PM. On-site registration will begin at 7:30AM on the day one.

Instructors

Name

Additional Resources

Eric Blevins

Eric Blevins
Senior Assistant City Attorney, Public Safety

Biography: Eric Blevins is the Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City of Overland Park, Kansas, where he provides legal counsel to the Police, Fire, and Emergency Management Departments. Throughout his legal career, Eric has built extensive experience serving Kansas communities, including roles as a city prosecutor, private attorney, and legal advisor to public safety agencies. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Legal Section and is recognized for his expertise in public safety law and his commitment to supporting law enforcement and emergency services across Kansas.

Sarah Boyd

Sarah Boyd
Public Relations Manager

Biography: Sarah Boyd is the public relations manager for the Clay County, Missouri, Sheriff's Office, where she also oversees the Community Engagement Unit. She previously worked at the Kansas City Missouri Police Department, where she created and managed the department's internationally recognized social media platforms, along with a number of other public and media relations duties. She has presented about social media and public relations topics at numerous international and regional conferences and was named an International Association of Chiefs (IACP) of Police 40 Under 40. She is the immediate past secretary on the executive board of the IACP Public Information Officers Section. She has provided consulting services and expertise to numerous Midwestern law enforcement agencies on media relations and implementing an effective social media presence. A former newspaper reporter, Sarah has a degree in communication: journalism from Truman State University.

Jake Becchina

Biography: Captain Jake Becchina is a 23-year veteran of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department. He is currently assigned as the Media Relations Unit Commander, responsible for leading public information regarding department activities to local, regional, and national media partners, as well as public relations and internal communications for the nearly 1700-member department. During his 6+ years in the Media Relations Unit, he has managed public information for high profile events such as multiple officers involved in a shooting and being wounded, a critical incident during the 2020 Chiefs Superbowl parade, record numbers of homicides consecutive years, a line of duty death, the 2023 NFL Draft, a mass shooting at the 2023 Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade and rally, and many others.Jake is the Secretary for the Kansas City Metropolitan Chief's and Sheriff's Association, the former South-Central Regional Vice- Chair for International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) - PIO Section, and a Co-Chair of the Major Cities Chiefs Association PIO Committee. Jake has presented multiple times at IACP National Conferences on the topics of media relations and public information.

Facility Detail

Lenexa Justice Center

17371 Prairie Star Pkwy

Lenexa, KS 66219

Cancellation Policy

A refund less a $25.00 cancellation fee will be assessed for all cancellations made in writing prior to 10 days before the start of the event. After that time, no refunds will be made.