Critical Incidents and the Media

This unique training opportunity is applicable for law enforcement Public Information Officers, Supervisors, Administrators, Chiefs, Sheriffs, or anyone assigned to work with the media.  Topics include:

• What the media expects from a good PIO
• What the media expects from leadership
• How to be a more effective communicator for internal and external audiences
• How the media works
• Effective and ineffective ways to handle message/response
• What makes a story “Newsworthy”?
• Why reporters ask the questions they do
• Why is it important to provide certain documents before being asked
• The timing of the news cycle and the lifespan of a story
• How a one-day story can become a week-long negative publicity escapade
• How to avoid long-lasting negative coverage
• How to talk to reporters, on the phone, live, on camera, or in a recorded interview
• Effective public speaking
• Dissection of a real-life scenario, what went wrong and right, lessons learned

Instructors:           

Anastasiya Bolton is an award-winning broadcast journalist, media expert and crisis communications professional.  During her 22 years in TV, including 12 years in Denver, she specialized in reporting on high-profile, difficult, emotional events, including the Aurora, CO Theater shooting, the shooting at a Church in Sutherland Springs, TX and Santa Fe, TX High School shooting.  She’s covered the disappearances of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway in CO and 18-year-old Natalee Holloway in Aruba. Anastasiya’s helped law enforcement, non-profits, gov. agencies & others plan for crisis, develop comms plans, tell their stories, prepare for media interviews, and respond to negative publicity.

Cassidee Carlson, Aurora PD Division Chief (Ret.), spent 20 years as a police officer in Aurora Colorado. She recently retired as a Division Chief. During her career, she was a Field Training officer, served on the SWAT team, worked in major crimes, the PIO unit, and Internal Affairs. In 2022, as the Operations Division Chief, she oversaw patrol, community policing and the School Resource Unit. Cassidee’s innovative PIO response to the Aurora Theater shooting has become a national model on how to handle mass casualty incidents and help victims of crime navigate media inquiries. Cassidee and her federal partners have worked tirelessly to share her knowledge and expertise across the country.

Date & Time:                        Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 8:30am-4:30pm

Location:                                Mott Community College – Southern Lake Branch, 2100 W. Thompson Road, Fenton, MI 48430 (Room 1206)

Cost:                                       LEORTC Licensed Members – Pre-paid, LEORTC Members (non-licensed) – $150

All Others – $199

Click to REGISTER below:

https://form.123formbuilder.com/6888767/training-application-form

“This training has been registered with MCOLES for the use of PA 302 Law Enforcement Distribution funds.”

This training is registered as, “Agency Elected Continuing Professional Education (CPE).”