Office of Media and Communications
The Office of Media and Communications for Public Safety works to inform the public via the local news media to make sure broadcast, print and online outlets have accurate and timely information on crimes, crime prevention, and police department activities.
Elise Armacost is the Director of the Office of Media and Communications for Public Safety. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office telephone number is 410-887-2210.
In seeking information on crime and related matters, residents will get the most immediate and accurate information from the officers in the precinct which serves them. However, residents can receive immediate and current information about the department and the county by subscribing to the section's iWatch Crime Alerts and Police Announcements.
These and other subscriptions are available for free through the Police Information Network. Citizens can also stay informed about police activities by subscribing to the department's quarterly newsletter, Behind the Badge, and they can learn more about the valuable services that are provided by watching Police Report, the department's monthly cable TV program.
On-Call PIO Schedule
The Baltimore County Police and Fire Departments assign a public information officer to provide information about breaking news that occurs outside of regular business hours. Note that they are available after hours only for breaking news and follow ups to breaking news. Contact the Media and Communications Office during regular business hours for other inquiries.
The schedule and contact information for the on-call Public Safety Information Officers are provided to media agencies each Monday via e-mail.
For the week of Monday, May 21, through Sunday, May 27, the on-call PIOs are:
- Police Department: Officer Shawn Vinson (svinson@baltimorecountymd.gov) from May 21-25; Detective Cathy Batton (cbatton@baltimorecountymd.gov) from May 26-27
- Fire Department: Captain Ross Cooke (ccooke@baltimorecountymd.gov) from May 21-27
If you do not have contact numbers for the on-call PIO, contact Police Liaison (410-307-2020) or Fire Dispatch (410-307-2052).
Make Police Liaison and Fire Dispatch your first contact for breaking news inquiries. Dispatchers provide basic information and advise if a public safety information officer has been called out to the scene.
Revised May 21, 2012
