Episode #14 - Interview with Christopher Cook, Arlington Police (TX)

Christopher Cook serves as a lieutenant overseeing the media relations and strategic communications for the Arlington, Texas Police Department. He leads a team focused on internal and external communication initiatives, proactive citizen engagement through digital social media, and strategic public relations. Lt. Cook oversees both sworn and civilian staff which manage all media inquiries, respond to major incidents, and produce digital media and publications to reach the population who live, work and visit the 48th largest city in the United States.

Lt. Cook was elected in 2019 and serves as the current Vice President of the National Information Officers Association (NIOA), the largest group of communication professionals in the world. He is scheduled to be sworn in as President of the NIOA in August 2021. He also chairs the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) – Public Information Officers Committee representing 78 of the largest police departments in the United States and Canada, since 2018. Lt. Cook is a Regional Vice Chair representing the Central United States consisting of Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) – Public Information Officers Section and previously served as the Chair for that Section from 2015-2018. He also is an active member of the North Texas PIO Group which provides regular assistance and training to law enforcement agencies in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth region. Lt. Cook testified before the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice-Community Trust and Respect for Law Enforcement panel in 2020. He also provided testimony to the IACP Police Professional Standards Ethics and Image Committee on the state of policing related to the value that public information officers provide to communities in the midst of calls for police reform and defunding media teams. Lt. Cook provides regular instructional courses in the public information profession to a variety of agencies and organizations. Speaking and executive training engagements include the IACP, NIOA, MCCA, FBI, Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, Texas Crime Prevention Association, Institute for Law Enforcement Administration, Caruth Police Institute, Government Social Media Conference, the Social Media Internet Law Enforcement Conference, and numerous other law enforcement centric organizations.

Lt. Cook began his career in law enforcement in 1995 and graduated at the top of his class. He has worked in jail operations, patrol, traffic enforcement, commercial vehicle enforcement, high-intensity drug trafficking operations, and fatality crash investigations. Lt. Cook has a decade of experience in media relations, strategic communication, and public outreach efforts based upon his appointment to lead the Media Office in 2011. He has served as a lead public information planner and PIO for several large-scale events including the MLB World Series in 2011 and 2020, NFL Super Bowl in 2011, College Football Playoff National Championship in 2015, and the National Finals Rodeo in 2020. Lt. Cook holds a Master of Arts in Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Arlington and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice at Tarleton State University.

Christopher Cook – Lieutenant –Arlington Police Department Work - 817.459.5333
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