Safety Corner

Valuable FBI-LEEDA Training Helps Advance Safety Communications

As QCC continues to advance and fortify its safety protocols and procedures, understanding the importance of delivering timely, appropriate and accurate information, particularly during crisis situations, is a vital part of safety communications. Last month Deputy Chief Stephen DiGiovanni and Karen Hutner, director of Strategic Communications and Public Relations, took part in a weeklong FBI-LEEDA (Law Enforcement Executive Development Association) training session, where they each earned a certificate in media and public relations. This training was specifically designed for public information officers and law enforcement leadership.

"I want to thank both Deputy Chief DiGiovanni and Karen for attending this very important training that will help QCC be better prepared to respond to emergency communications." said QCC Chief of Police Kevin Ritacco.

The training was taught by a 20-year veteran, Lieutenant Sarah Connolly, of the Baltimore Police Department, who spent several years as the agency’s Deputy Director of Media Relations and Director of the Document Compliance Unit. In 2019, Connolly became the communications strategist for the Baltimore County Police Department.

The course offered hands-on training in ways to work effectively with the media, engage in social media, as well as hosting news conferences and best practices in crisis communications. Participants took part in mock news conferences and other scenarios that helped prepare them for a multitude of situations that could potentially arise.

“Working with public information officers and police officers from police departments across the country enabled us to establish valuable relationships with other police agencies,” Hutner said. “This was one of the most informative training sessions I’ve ever attended and the Deputy Chief and I walked away with a great deal of useable knowledge that will help strength our safety communications.”

"I echo saying that this was one of the best trainings I have gone to and it showed me how important the public information officer is," DiGiovanni said.

Earlier this year DiGiovanni completed the final part of an extensive three-part training, known as the trilogy, at the FBI-LEEDA Command Leadership Institute. The trilogy consists of the Supervisor Leadership Institute, the Command Leadership Institute, and the Executive Leadership Institute, and was developed to prepare law enforcement leaders for command level positions.