Commission launches study on public information officer role for police and fire

Commissioner Picker introduced a preliminary discussion about creating a public information officer to support the city’s police and fire departments and broader emergency management operations.

Picker said the PIO role is a permanent part of the Incident Command System and suggested commissioners and chiefs develop a conceptual outline addressing whether Marshfield needs one PIO, two PIOs or a shared resource and how that role would align with emergency management responsibilities.

Chiefs and commissioners discussed options including assigning the role to existing staff, hiring a dedicated position, or contracting for services. Several commissioners noted the city communications office could be leveraged; others emphasized the value of dedicated media expertise to build relationships and proactively manage public messaging ahead of major incidents.

Participants cited examples of benefits — building social-media followings to push timely information, improving coordinated messaging during large incidents, and using a PIO to craft professional interviews — while also noting cost and staffing constraints. Tom Lowes, identified in the meeting as the city communications director, was suggested as a possible invite to discuss city-level capacity.

Commissioners asked the fire and police chiefs to prepare a conceptual framework, job description and policy considerations for the commission to review in August; they also flagged the option of referring findings to the common council for citywide consideration.

No formal action or budget appropriation was taken; the item was placed on the commission’s study list.