Today we will be discussing strategic communications for police executives.  The police continue to wrestle with significant challenges in their effort to serve their communities effectively.  Increases in violent crime, loss of public confidence, and understaffing because of the inability to fill vacant positions are among them.  External and internal communications are also enormous challenges for the police.  They work in a fast-paced 24/7 world that requires police executives to ensure communication is strategic, timely, and accurate.

We are fortunate to have Dr. Julie Hill with us today to share her extensive experience in working on communications strategy in local government and policing. Julie has more than three decades of experience helping organizations think strategically about their communication activities and providing support to develop and execute communication plans. She has held executive-level positions overseeing the communication and public affairs operations for cities and law enforcement agencies in Charlotte, NC, and Virginia Beach, VA. She successfully guided communication responses to a range of manmade and natural disasters as the lead communication strategist, spokesperson, and senior advisor to elected and appointed officials.   

I had the pleasure of working with and learning from Julie in my nine years as police chief in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.  Since then, we worked together on several projects, including a book on strategic communication practices for police executives, a soon-to-be-published guide on branding, and a guide on officer safety and wellness campaigns.