Basic Public Information Officer (PIO)

Topics Covered:

    The LEMIT/Basic PIO staff wishes to express their deepest heartache for all involved in the response and recovery efforts throughout all of the Texas areas affected by the recent weather events. The safety and necessity of our participants helping and responding in this catastrophe is essential. Our priority is to allow all those involved to focus their attention on these recovery efforts. At this time, we have decided to postpone the upcoming Basic PIO scheduled for September 18, 2017. We will continue to monitor the circumstances and advise you when Basic PIO has been rescheduled as soon as we can. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Who Should Attend:

  • Potential, recently assigned, or existing PIO's
  • Administrative Executives involved in public information duties
  • All public safety personnel tasked with the collection, dissemination, and/or oversight of public information for their department and/or organization

Course Hours:

Participants receive 24 hours of TCOLE (6038) credit.

Program Links:

[ Program Page ]

Date/Time:

Sep 18 - 20, 2017

Course Cost:

$395 per person for Texas governmental agencies
$495 per person for out of state personnel

Location Information:

Sam Houston State University-The Woodlands Center
3380 College Park Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77384

Hotel Information: *

Candlewood Suites
17525 St. Luke's Way
The Woodlands, TX 77384
936-271-2100
Reference Code: BPIO
Rate: $99.00 plus tax

* Unless otherwise noted, hotel arrangements are the responsibility of the participant.


The Public Information Officer (PIO) course is available to all public safety personnel involved in the collection, dissemination, and oversight of public information for their department and/or organization. The program addresses common issues facing the public safety sector and the media and focuses on equipping PIO's with the "tools of the trade" for normal operations, as well as during community crises. This program uses hands-on exercises to develop skills based on various media scenarios, situational analysis, and impromptu "on camera" takes and debriefings and provides essential tools necessary to perform the duties of a PIO. The course also features information regarding social media resources.

For more information, contact:

Camara Walden, Coordinator - Professional Development Programs
Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas
George J. Beto Criminal Justice Building
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX 77341-2417
Fax: (936) 294-3926
Phone: (936) 294-4995
Phone: 800-477-9248
lemitpdp@shsu.edu

Cancellation Policy:

If the participant has already paid, he/she will be refunded half the cost of the registration fee if written notice of cancellation is received by the Program Coordinator no later than seven (7) business days prior to the program. No refunds are available after this date, but substitutions of attendees are permitted.

If no written cancellation is received and the participant does not attend the program, the participant or their agency will be required to pay 100% of the registration fee if the registration fee was not previously paid.