When a scrum of reporters forms up around a police spokesperson in New Westminster to unload a barrage of questions, it will be Sgt. Diana McDaniel standing in the middle of it.
McDaniel recently took on the role of media liaison for New Westminster Police Service, making her the public face and voice of the force.
McDaniel, a 14-year veteran with New Westminster police, said she sought out the job in the interest of keeping the public informed - not because it's fun being in a media spotlight.
"I don't know if it was so much that I wanted to be that person, but I find keeping the public informed and working in partnership with media very beneficial to our police department and to the public," she said.
A police force is always seeking a two-way relationship with the public, McDaniel said, which means open communication on big and small issues.
"The New Westminster police department has a great interest in keeping the public informed, and making sure (the public) is aware of what's going on in the city. Whether they're issues of keeping them safe or public interest type issues, we would like to be seen as communicating directly with them," she said. "I want to make sure that they're kept informed on potential safety issues, maybe just events that are going on within the city that include New Westminster police."
And police often must reach out to the public for help in solving crimes, which usually starts with a police press release.
"We may need their help in crime related areas - witnesses to certain events," McDaniel said.
McDaniel takes over for outgoing media liaison Sgt. Gary Weishaar who had been in the role since 2008. Prior to her current jobs, which also include heading up the community services division and human resources for the force, McDaniel has done stints on patrol, the street crime unit, the Joint Missing Women Task Force and watch command. She was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2008.
To prepare for the job, McDaniel returned to New Westminster' s Justice Institute of B.C., where she graduated from at the start of her policing career, for a class in media relations.
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