PHILIP D. MURPHY Governor
TAHESHA L. WAY Lt. Governor
State of New Jersey OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE OF POLICING STRATEGY AND INNOVATION
25 MARKET STREET
PO BOX 085
TRENTON, NJ 08625-0085
January 28, 2025
MATTHEW J. PLATKIN Attorney General
ISA M. ABBASSI Executive Director
All New Jersey Law Enforcement Executives via email only
Re: Responding to Press Inquiries Following Fatal Police Encounters
Dear Prosecutors, Chiefs, Sheriffs, and Directors:
The Attorney General recognizes the responsibility of law enforcement chief executives to address the public safety concerns of their communities. In the aftermath of a critical incident, the prompt dissemination of information often serves to calm the community and maintain trust in local law enforcement agencies. This can often be accomplished through the thoughtful use of press releases and social media messaging. The purpose of issuing a press release, social media message or prerecorded statement by a law enforcement executive after a fatal police encounter or critical incident should be strictly limited to the following areas of focus:
• Assuring the public that there is no active or ongoing threat to the public at large;
• Informing the public of areas to avoid to facilitate law enforcement response or alleviate traffic congestion;
• Identifying the agency responsible for investigation of the incident.
The below press release template may be used by state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies involved in a fatal police encounter or death-in-custody that is being investigated by the Attorney General’ s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability(“ OPIA”), in accordance with Attorney General’ s Law Enforcement Directive 2019-4( https:// www. nj. gov / oag / dcj / agguide / directives / ag-Directive-2019-4. pdf).
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