Candidates push proactive social-media briefings, PIO planning and multi-agency drills for crises

When asked how the sheriff should communicate during emergencies, candidates emphasized regular public engagement and robust multi-channel crisis messaging.

Panelists said the sheriff should not wait until an incident to build public trust: they advocated regular social-media posts, weekly or monthly public check-ins and a visible public-information officer (PIO). For acute incidents, candidates suggested immediate social-media statements, coordinated press briefings, and pre-recorded loudspeaker messages routed from patrol vehicles to reach residents who may not see near-real-time web posts.

Candidates also emphasized pre-crisis preparedness — maintaining mutual-aid agreements with county, state and federal partners (including Hill Air Force Base where appropriate), training together and exercising communication plans so that phone trees, siren/vehicle messaging and social-media updates can be synchronized in a crisis.

All candidates stressed that clear, frequent and honest public messaging is the quickest way to keep citizens safe and reduce rumor and confusion during emergencies.