1.1 - Weazel Entertainment News Network - WENN Relationships with Businesses and Agencies
WENN and Law Enforcement Policies
- When interacting with any law enforcement offer, a high degree of professionalism and integrity is expected. Failure to behave and conduct yourself appropriately may result in disciplinary action and/or termination.
1.2 - Los Santos Police Department
These are terms agreed upon between Weazel News and LSPD.
To ensure the safety of every news reporter, writer, civilian, and Officer we have devised a scene safety protocol that will allow you to safely, but effectively interact with Los Santos Police Department officials for journalistic purposes while on scenes. Each and every situation the Los Santos Police Department works on may, and usually contains a dose of investigative confidentiality that must be respected.
Sensitive, unreleasable information is vital in day-to-day police work and is often kept as such before an investigation is finalized. The presence of potential danger on every scene is ever so high, and your approach must be in accordance with the protocol in place which puts the safety of the citizen first, and journalism at the forefront of the idea at the same time.
Scene Basics
Safety - Stand behind designated barriers and/or cruisers that outline a crime scene, or an area of restricted movement. The Los Santos Police Department prioritizes the safety of everyone above all, including citizens and journalists - act in accordance with safety measures set on specific scenes. The word of an Officer should be treated with the utmost seriousness, on scenes, you will be told to move, relocate or leave at times, please, be mindful of this. Once the safety of everyone is guaranteed, you may proceed in a regular fashion and make your request clear.
Communication
Communication is vital. Communicate with Officers on the scene to clarify your intentions to in turn get the necessary information you require as soon, and as safely as possible. Remain vigilant of your surroundings, and prioritize your safety before anything else.
Information
You may request a Spokesperson at any point in time, or anyone authorized to speak on behalf of the Los Santos Police Department. Some situations may require the full attention of all Officers on scenes that may delay or prolong responses, or submissions of your requests. Information about an event/scene will be provided as soon as it is safe to do so if any can be provided. Safety must be guaranteed before any information is requested, and given as well. Safety will be determined by the scene supervisor.
As a final point, remaining informed and obtaining releasable information is your right. This proposed protocol ensures the safety of everyone involved during active scenes which you wish to cover. This is subject to change depending on the scale, sensitivity, and other influential factors that might affect scenes that you wish to attend and cover. Please, be mindful of this. If an officer fails to follow protocol, politely ask for the officer's badge number, stop talking with them and file an IA report.
To ensure the safety of every news reporter, writer, civilian, and Officer we have devised a scene safety protocol that will allow you to safely, but effectively interact with Los Santos Police Department officials for journalistic purposes while on scenes. Each and every situation the Los Santos Police Department works on may, and usually contains a dose of investigative confidentiality that must be respected.
Sensitive, unreleasable information is vital in day-to-day police work and is often kept as such before an investigation is finalized. The presence of potential danger on every scene is ever so high, and your approach must be in accordance with the protocol in place which puts the safety of the citizen first, and journalism at the forefront of the idea at the same time.
Scene Basics
Safety - Stand behind designated barriers and/or cruisers that outline a crime scene, or an area of restricted movement. The Los Santos Police Department prioritizes the safety of everyone above all, including citizens and journalists - act in accordance with safety measures set on specific scenes. The word of an Officer should be treated with the utmost seriousness, on scenes, you will be told to move, relocate or leave at times, please, be mindful of this. Once the safety of everyone is guaranteed, you may proceed in a regular fashion and make your request clear.
Communication
Communication is vital. Communicate with Officers on the scene to clarify your intentions to in turn get the necessary information you require as soon, and as safely as possible. Remain vigilant of your surroundings, and prioritize your safety before anything else.
Information
You may request a Spokesperson at any point in time, or anyone authorized to speak on behalf of the Los Santos Police Department. Some situations may require the full attention of all Officers on scenes that may delay or prolong responses, or submissions of your requests. Information about an event/scene will be provided as soon as it is safe to do so if any can be provided. Safety must be guaranteed before any information is requested, and given as well. Safety will be determined by the scene supervisor.
As a final point, remaining informed and obtaining releasable information is your right. This proposed protocol ensures the safety of everyone involved during active scenes which you wish to cover. This is subject to change depending on the scale, sensitivity, and other influential factors that might affect scenes that you wish to attend and cover. Please, be mindful of this. If an officer fails to follow protocol, politely ask for the officer's badge number, stop talking with them and file an IA report.
1.3 - WENN and LSPD Ride-Along Procedure
We now have a program in place between Weazel News and LSPD, this allows Senior + Journalist employees to go on police ride-alongs for content purposes.
(Head of Media may allow ranks below Senior at our discretion)
We can allow up to 2 employees at a time on a ride along
How to apply
Apply for a ‘News Media Identification Card’ on the government website LINK HERE
Get approval from the Head of Media or CEO with a signed letter on original business letterhead.
Submit your application
Any person(s) in possession of a card must conduct their ride-along with a fully certified spokesperson of the Media Relations Division if they wish to film their ride-along (partially or entirely), document the work of Police Officers, or ask questions to the officer conducting the ride-along. If the purpose of the ride-along is to take photos or gather information for an article, it can be conducted by any officer part of the Media Relations Division or any Police Supervisor of the Los Santos Police Department.
Any video content you create involving the ride-along must be sent over for screening via a group email to PD Media Relations and Marco Davis copied in. This is to ensure no sensitive information is put out into the public.
(Head of Media may allow ranks below Senior at our discretion)
We can allow up to 2 employees at a time on a ride along
- You must be clocked on and be in uniform, you must wear the company high vis vest.
- You must remain professional at all times adhering to normal company policy when in public
- You must follow protocol for LSPD scenes and listen to the officer you are on the ride-along with to ensure your safety.
How to apply
Apply for a ‘News Media Identification Card’ on the government website LINK HERE
Get approval from the Head of Media or CEO with a signed letter on original business letterhead.
Submit your application
Any person(s) in possession of a card must conduct their ride-along with a fully certified spokesperson of the Media Relations Division if they wish to film their ride-along (partially or entirely), document the work of Police Officers, or ask questions to the officer conducting the ride-along. If the purpose of the ride-along is to take photos or gather information for an article, it can be conducted by any officer part of the Media Relations Division or any Police Supervisor of the Los Santos Police Department.
Any video content you create involving the ride-along must be sent over for screening via a group email to PD Media Relations and Marco Davis copied in. This is to ensure no sensitive information is put out into the public.
1.4 - WENN and LSPD Media Relations
The form to contact the LSPD can be found HERE.
When filling out a request for more information, statements, or a meeting, please make sure you fill out the proper application. When sending a request, be sure to include the appropriate and necessary information. The request should be professional, courteous, and never derogatory. If you have any questions about what is or is not appropriate, contact the Head of Media.
When contacting the LSPD via email, please CC the Content Manager and Executive Command. When writing or reporting based on information given from the LSPD, do not mention the suspect’s name even if we obtained it ourselves on scene.
1.5 - Los Santos County Sheriff's Department
Los Santos County Sheriff’s Department
LSCSD Point of Contact:
Point of Contact: Amelia Clark
Commanding Officer of Sheriff’s Information Division
Point of Contact: XXX
Assistant Commanding Officer of Sheriff’s Information Division
The form to contact LSSD can be found HERE. When filling out a request for more information, be sure to include the appropriate and necessary information. The request should be professional, courteous, and never derogatory. If you have any questions about what is or is not appropriate, contact the Head of Media.
When contacting the LSSD via email always be sure to CC in the Chief Executive Officer.
When writing or reporting based on information given from the LSSD, do not mention the suspect’s name even if we obtained it ourselves on scene.
1.6 - LSCSD Ride-Along Protocols
If information is needed on an active scene, locate the highest ranked individual. In general, this person should be a supervisor or with a supervisor’s permission if at all possible.
It is also in the LSSD protocol to not release names. Even when the name is available, it is preferred that names of parolee, suspects, victims, and witnesses are not published. Questions about (potential) wrongdoing within the LSSD will always be referred to the Internal Affairs division.
In general, the LSSD will not comment on active investigations and cannot comment deeply on divisional work and/or operations done by the detention and parole bureau, and/or special enforcement division.
When requesting an interview, the LSSD prefers a draft with a list of questions beforehand.
LSCSD Information on Ranks - Written and Spoken
Deputy Sheriff Trainee are referred to as Trainee in speech and Deputy Sheriff Trainee in writing
Deputy Sheriff I, II, III and Master Deputy are referred to as their full rank in writing, and Deputy in speech.
Corporals are referred to as their full rank in writing, and Corporal in speech
Sergeant and Staff Sergeant are referred to as full rank in writing, and Sergeant in speech.
Lieutenants are referred to as Lieutenant in both writing and speech.
Captains are referred to as Captain in both writing and speech.
Commanders are referred to as Commander in both writing and speech.
Assistant Sheriff, Undersheriff and Sheriff are referred to as their full rank in writing and Sheriff in speech
1.6a - LSCSD Press Pass
The form for this is HERE!
The Sheriff's Information Media Press Pass allows employees of an official News Network and/or independent journalists to attend a specialized ride-along with selected members of the Sheriff's Department.
Once the application has been submitted, a member of SID Command will conduct the review, and a decision of denial or approval will be issued.
A Sheriff's Information Media ride-along may only be conducted by a member of the Sheriff's Information Divisional Command, Department Spokesperson's and member of the Sheriff's Department Supervisor+ Team.
The Sheriff's Information Media Press Pass may be revoked for the following;
The individual have resigned or in other ways abandoned their position within the news network.
The individual has received charges not permitted by our penal code requirements, or found to have affiliations with a criminal organization.
The individual has failed to follow general requirements, orders by law enforcement officers during the session or have found not to be fit for the program.
The Media Press Pass will received individual review, including employment & background check every two (2) months.
The Sheriff's Information Media Press Pass allows employees of an official News Network and/or independent journalists to attend a specialized ride-along with selected members of the Sheriff's Department.
Once the application has been submitted, a member of SID Command will conduct the review, and a decision of denial or approval will be issued.
A Sheriff's Information Media ride-along may only be conducted by a member of the Sheriff's Information Divisional Command, Department Spokesperson's and member of the Sheriff's Department Supervisor+ Team.
The Sheriff's Information Media Press Pass may be revoked for the following;
The individual have resigned or in other ways abandoned their position within the news network.
The individual has received charges not permitted by our penal code requirements, or found to have affiliations with a criminal organization.
The individual has failed to follow general requirements, orders by law enforcement officers during the session or have found not to be fit for the program.
The Media Press Pass will received individual review, including employment & background check every two (2) months.
1.7 - LSCSD Ride-Along Procedures
We have a program in place between Weazel News and LSSD.
This allows Senior+ Writers and Reporters to go on ride-alongs with the LSSD for the purpose of reporting content. The policies and procedures are outlined below.
WENN and LSCSD Rules and Guidelines
This allows Senior+ Writers and Reporters to go on ride-alongs with the LSSD for the purpose of reporting content. The policies and procedures are outlined below.
WENN and LSCSD Rules and Guidelines
- Weazel employees must be clocked on and be in uniform.
- LSCSD can allow up to 2 Weazel Employees for a ride-along at a time
- Weazel must follow protocol for LSCSD scenes and listen to the officer you are on the ride-along with to ensure safety
- Weazel employees must inform SID if the normal protocol would have you inform a Deputy Sheriff III or above to terminate the ride-along.
- If Weazel employees intend to record or film the ride-along it must be done by a supervisor
- Before the request is sent, a specific time and date need to have been arranged with an employee to do the ride-along.
- An approved ride-a-long is valid from a week before the shift mentioned in the application and until a week after. If it has to be moved or if an additional ride-along is done within this timeframe you do not need additional approval. Approval is always given beforehand.
1.8 - WENN Employee Instructions for Ride-Alongs
If you intend on filming the entire ride-along, or you wish to document the work of police officers somehow, or if you need to ask questions to the officer conducting the ride-along, it must be conducted by a fully trained Supervisor. However, if it is just to take pictures or gather information for an article, it can be conducted by any member of the Media Relations Division or any Deputy Sheriff II or above.
Ensure you are an eligible employee who agreed to a specific time and date.
Apply using the usual form on the Government website, then send it by email to SID & CC Weazel News Management.
Subject: Ride Along Request - Your Name
On the form use the reason ‘Weazel Ride-Along, looking to do a ride-along with MRD officer for purpose of filming/writing content’
LSSD EMPLOYEE RANK & FULL NAME DATE: TIME of ride-along
Once approved those involved will be informed and the application will be published.
Any video content you create involving the ride-along must be sent over for screening via a group email to SID. This is to ensure no sensitive information is put out to the public.
So we can clock hours worked while out on the ride along please fill in this form to keep track of everything so we can add the hours to payroll at the end of the week - FORM LINK (Abuse of this can/will result in disciplinary action)