20-21 - Press Pass Identification
PRESS PASS IDENTIFICATION
The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information to Department personnel on how to properly identify a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department press pass.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department issues press passes to authorized media agencies. The purpose of the Department press pass is to authenticate the identity of a journalist and to allow that person to get closer than the average citizen to police and fire lines, press conferences, emergency evacuation areas or disaster recovery zones, and other Department-related events. This pass affords the bearer of the credential an opportunity to restricted areas to publish matters of public concern and disseminate information to the general public
Person(s) holding a press pass are required to meet a certain criteria upon application and will be live-scanned prior to a pass being issued.
Access to restricted areas shall be limited to authorized representatives of the news media in possession of a valid media identification card (press pass) issued by any law enforcement agency, government agency, or fire department within the State of California. Credentials issued by the representative's agency or employer shall also be honored.
Press exemption applies to disasters, riots, and civil disobedience situations only. Media representatives are not afforded any special status at crime scenes or areas cordoned off during Special Weapons Team operations as stated in the Manual of Policy and Procedures section 5-06/000.35, News Media.
A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Press Pass remains the property of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and must be surrendered upon demand of the Department for any of the following reasons:
- If the employee or employer has been convicted by final judgment of conviction, or arrested prior to the date of the application, for offenses involving the use of force or violence on the person of another, converting the property of another, lewd conduct, forgery, embezzlement, vagrancy, or for interfering with or otherwise impeding the activities of law enforcement officers.
- If the employee abuses his or her press pass access.
- If the employee uses his or her press pass to deceive another person or for the purpose of committing or attempting to commit fraud.
- If the employee terminates or changes employment.
Press pass requests and information shall be directed to Sheriff’s Information Bureau at (213) 229-1850.
Depicted below is an example of proper Los Angeles County Sheriff Department Press Pass Identification Card:
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