Captain King. As the administrative assistant to the chief, one of my primary responsibilities is press relations and public relations also. On the date of November 22 I was asked to remain in the administrative offices while other members of the administrative staff were going to be absent on their assignments, and I was asked to stay in the administrative offices.
Mr. Hubert. I would like for you to describe for the record just under normal circumstances just what the functions and duties and responsibilities of your position are.
Captain King. There are, of course, a lot of rather dissimilar or separated functions of the office.
Mr. Hubert. I am particularly interested in the ones dealing with press relations and public relations.
Captain King. As I say, the office—our office is the unit of the department that is charged with the efforts of the department for public relations and it is the office to which the local newsmen know they can come to receive any assistance that they need in their work. It is one in which they can register complaints against the department and procedures of the department and the treatment that they receive, or it is one to which they can come to secure information on things they are investigating.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, there is a setup—a central spot—where every newsman can get the information and information will be gotten for him?
Captain King. This is true.
Mr. Hubert. That’s your office and you are the head of that?
Captain King. That’s true; yes.
Mr. Hubert. Prior to November 22, were any standard operating procedures set up for relationships with the press?