ST. GEORGE — The voice of the St. George Police Department has been given a shoutout from the news media and her public relations colleagues.
Officer Tiffany Mitchell, the public information officer for St. George Police, received the 2023 Media Relations Award from the Utah PIO Association.
Mitchell was honored Thursday night on the last day of the association’s annual conference, which was held last week at the Courtyard by Marriott in St. George.
The award was determined by the nominations of media members throughout the state and goes to the publicist with a track record of responsiveness, transparency and accuracy. Mitchell was selected from hundreds of public relations officers throughout Utah.
In a statement, St. George News Editor-in-Chief Joseph Witham said it was no surprise to him that Mitchell received the recognition.
“From the moment I first met Officer Mitchell years ago at the scene of a car crash on St. George Boulevard, she has only ever been accommodating, amiable and safety-centric, all the traits you could hope for in an ideal law enforcement officer,” Witham said. “Her commitment to providing timely and useful information is a huge asset to the residents of St. George.
“We truly are a privileged community to have someone like Tiffany in charge of public safety information dissemination. It’s no surprise at all to me that she was recognized as Utah’s public information officer of the year.”
Mitchell told St. George News she credits supportive colleagues who make her feel supported and appreciated, as well as what she said were “fantastic working relationships” she has with media members.
“I certainly didn’t earn this award by myself,” Mitchell said. “I love being a police officer and I love this community. It’s an honor to be the face of SGPD. The community has been so receptive to our message and that’s a great feeling. To know the information we put out is being well received is amazing.”
While Mitchell said she feels fortunate to be with the department, St. George Police Chief Kyle Whitehead said the department is fortunate to have her.
“Officer Mitchell’s ability to navigate the ever-evolving media landscape and build strong relationships has been remarkable,” Whitehead said. “Her strategic approach, effective communication skills, and unwavering commitment to promoting our mission have elevated the police department’s presence and reputation in the media.”
Mitchell has been with the department since 2015 and became its PIO in July 2018.
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