Quarterly PIO Meeting Focuses on I-85 Bridge Collapse Response and Rise of Fatal Drug Overdoses

On June 28, public information officers (PIOs) from multiple Georgia law enforcement agencies gathered at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center to hold their quarterly meeting. PIOs serve as their organization’s official liaison to news media and the public. These meetings allow the PIOs to network with one another, share findings and discuss recent events in the state.

During the meeting, Sergeant Warren Pickard of the Atlanta Police Department (APD) and Sergeant Cortez Stafford of the Atlanta Fire Department (AFD) jointly shared their insights in responding to the Interstate 85 bridge collapse. “We really got to understand how we work together as a team,” said Sgt. Stafford.

Sgt. Stafford relied heavily on social media outlets to keep the media and people informed that night. He and Sgt. Pickard sought to curb the spread of rumors and false facts. “I think for PIOs it’s important to control the narrative to ensure no incorrect information is released or spread,” said Sgt. Pickard.

Responding to the catastrophe took the combined efforts of the Atlanta Police Department, Atlanta Fire Department, Georgia State Patrol (GSP), Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security, Grady Hospital and City of Atlanta Public Works. The GSP was credited with successfully redirecting both northbound and southbound traffic in less than one hour after the bridge caught fire. “We were working together to put out the right information to the public. The community needs to be able to trust you as an agency,” concluded Sgt. Stafford.

Additionally, GBI Public Affairs Director Nelly Miles and Crime Lab Chemistry Discipline Manager Deneen Kilcrease discussed how to respond to the news media and public in the response to the rising number of lethal synthetic opioids.

Niles and Kilcrease relayed the challenges of alerting the public about the dangers of these drugs that are constantly evolving. Laws also must be constantly updated as illegal drug manufacturers are finding ways to get around them. According to Kilcrease, “every week it is something else.”

The pair emphasized that safety for the law enforcement officials and the GBI chemists who test and handle the drugs is the number one priority followed by accuracy of public reports. Many of these drugs are transdermal and lethal, so wearing the appropriate protective gear and abiding by proper handling procedures is crucial. Spreading awareness and giving the public accurate information is of the upmost importance especially since there have been increases in fatal drug overdoses involving counterfeit pills, fentanyl and synthetic opioids in the state.

Law enforcement PIOs will continue to serve the public by providing timely and accurate information. Statewide quarterly meetings allow PIOs to build upon their skills and maintain strong communications across state and law enforcement agencies.