Episode #15: Interview with Media Relations Specialist Sarah Boyd and PIO Sgt. Jake Becchina

Sarah Boyd - Public Relations Specialist
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Sarah Boyd has been employed by the Kansas City Police Department for the past 12 years. At the beginning of her career, social media use in policing was uncommon; therefore, she was tasked with developing and building the social media presence of the agency. She has worked with platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Nextdoor, Chief’s Blog, and Instagram. Within 10 years, she built a Twitter following of 233,000 in a city of about 475,000 residents. Public Relations Specialist Boyd built this following through years of continued responsiveness and innovative engagement methods. Her development of the “tweet-along” program became a model for departments everywhere to use Twitter to engage with the community.

Recognized as a vice-chair on the Public Information Committee for the Major Cities Chiefs Association, she has been invited to share her knowledge and experience at conferences around the United States and to serve in a consulting role for other police departments. She also instructs weekly internal social media training in order to teach social media use and community engagement enhancement to nearly 1,400 sworn officers.

Originally a crime and education newspaper reporter, Public Relations Specialist Boyd was drawn to the law enforcement profession due to the observations and stories she received from the community’s officers while reporting. She believes that the foundation of trust the agency has built through efforts such as promoting events or posting on social media has prevented the dissension, violence, and rioting experienced in other cities, creating a safer environment for everyone to work, live, and play in.

Sgt. Jake Becchina - Public Information Officer
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Sgt Jake Becchina is a 17+ year veteran of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department. He is currently assigned to the Media Relations Unit, responsible for supervising public information regarding department activities to local, regional, and national media partners. Jake has been assigned to Patrol, Tactical Response, Training Academy, and Violent Crimes Enforcement as an officer, and Patrol, Real-Time Crime Center, and Media as a Sergeant. Jake is passionate about police/community relations and focuses his efforts to build trust through transparency.  During his 2.5+ years in the Media Relations Unit he has managed public information for high profile events such as multiple officers involved in a shooting and being wounded, a critical incident during the Chief’s Superbowl parade, record numbers of homicides two consecutive years, and many others.

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