Aug 3, 2021 | Board Members Postings, Items of Note
We are saddened to announce that NIOA Past President Michael “Mike” Tellef, 67, of Mesa, passed away on Sunday, July 25, 2021 in Tempe, Arizona. Tellef served on the NIOA Board of Directors as Vice-President, President and Immediate Past President from 2005-2008.
Michael (Mike) James Tellef was born Feb 15, 1954 in Phoenix, Arizona to Robert and Ann (Staff) Tellef. A lifelong Arizona native, he was proud of his home.
His tenure with the City of Peoria began with the Peoria Police Department from October 24, 1977 to February 20, 1998 when he retired as a Sergeant. From February 23, 1998 to October 21, 2005 he worked for the Peoria Fire Department where he created and implemented their community and media relations programs.
On October 24, 2005 he returned to the Peoria Police Department as their PIO handling media and marketing. Mike was also certified in FEMA Basic as well as Advanced PIO and was one of the instructors of the FEMA Basic PIO Course in Arizona. Mike was part of a team of 12 PIOs from all levels of government from throughout the United States that worked with FEMA on upgrading the Basic PIO course and as a result two new courses were created. In February of 2008 he began handling media relations for the Peoria Fire Department in addition to the Police Department.
He was a Past President of the Safe Kids Maricopa County. He also served on the advisory council for the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona. On August 3, 2010 he was presented the Linda S. Kirby WATER Award by the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona for dedication and effort in promoting water safety. He has presented all over the country on media relations and crisis communications in places such as Delaware, FEMA EMI in Maryland and San Antonio.
In 2018, he sent a Facebook message to his high school sweetheart, Melissa Archer. She responded, and they ended up talking for hours. A new/old connection, and it was like no time had passed. They fell in love and got engaged. Covid threw off their plans for marriage, but they still lived happily together for a while.
Mike was known as Officer Friendly, as someone you could rely on, and was the nicest person ever in the world. That’s a fact. He cared about everyone he met, and is survived by a whole host of friends he cared about. His faith was also very important to him.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Bob and David Tellef and survived by his fiancée, Melissa Archer and (step)daughter Lisa Becker, brother Claude and sister-in-law Barbara, sons Adam and Chris and daughter-in-law Amber, as well as six grandchildren.
His service will be held on August 24th at 11am at Christ’s Church of the Valley, 7007 W Happy Valley Road in Peoria, AZ. There will be a celebration after at a venue TBA. Tempe Mortuary is entrusted with the arrangements. A GoFundMe account that was established to help with Mike’s medical expenses will now also assist the family with his funeral costs.
The NIOA Board of Directors, Past President’s Council, and all our members wish to extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the Tellef family, his fiancée and his many friends.
Lisa McNeal
Executive Director
On behalf of the NIOA Board of Directors
NIOA Past Presidents Council
& Region 9 Director Steve Berry
Apr 7, 2021 | Items of Note, Training Opportunities
When reporting situation where someone dies by suicide, it must be conducted in a professional, thoughtful, and compassionate manner. It is imperative that public information officers (PIO’s), reporters, and other related personnel be fully aware of best practices.
Fortunately, best practices have been established and when reporting both internally and externally. When these practices are followed correctly, it can both share information while also providing a message of hope to those receiving the message. Credible research has unfortunately shown the opposite too – certain types of reporting on suicide can potentially have an adverse impact on vulnerable audiences.
Columbia Psychiatry and the NIOA have joined together for a FREE session during the 2021 American Association of Suicidology Conference to make sure this information gets shared. The session will be held April 21, 2021 from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Join us to:
- Gain insight into the research and data behind the established best practices
- Differentiate between the truth and myths regarding suicide
- Be part of the discussion and Q & A panel of experts
- Get examples on messaging when reporting on suicide
- Take home a “cheat sheet” you can utilize
This session will not be archived or made available on-demand so make sure to join us live!
Registration is required. https://www.aasconference.org/reportingonsuicide
Apr 7, 2021 | Items of Note, Training Opportunities
When reporting situation where someone dies by suicide, it must be conducted in a professional, thoughtful, and compassionate manner. It is imperative that public information officers (PIO’s), reporters, and other related personnel be fully aware of best practices.
Fortunately, best practices have been established and when reporting both internally and externally. When these practices are followed correctly, it can both share information while also providing a message of hope to those receiving the message. Credible research has unfortunately shown the opposite too – certain types of reporting on suicide can potentially have an adverse impact on vulnerable audiences.
Columbia Psychiatry and the NIOA have joined together for a FREE session during the 2021 American Association of Suicidology Conference to make sure this information gets shared. The session will be held April 21, 2021 from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Join us to:
- Gain insight into the research and data behind the established best practices
- Differentiate between the truth and myths regarding suicide
- Be part of the discussion and Q & A panel of experts
- Get examples on messaging when reporting on suicide
- Take home a “cheat sheet” you can utilize
This session will not be archived or made available on-demand so make sure to join us live!
Registration is required. https://www.aasconference.org/reportingonsuicide
Jun 4, 2020 | Items of Note, NIOA Board Insights, President's Point of View
June 3, 2020
Public Information Officer, we see you.
If memory serves me correctly, at last year’s conference the hashtag #PIOsMatter was born. Pairing those two simple words made such an impactful statement. I cannot recall a time when it resonated more profoundly than it does today. You do matter. Now more than ever.
As government communicators and public information officers on the front lines of a nation with an increasingly challenging climate, you all continue to serve your organizations, your communities, and the field of public information with integrity, professionalism, and dedication. You meet adversity after adversity and work tirelessly to overcome. Sometimes this requires you to spend long hours away from your families and friends. Some of you even experience the added element of risking your life or having threats against your life simply because of the uniform you wear or the role you play in light of current events. None of this is easy, but you do not complain. You do what you must do. You push through.
What happened to George Floyd was not okay. Major Cities Chiefs Association describes his death as “by any measure of professional policing unnecessary, avoidable, and criminal.” I think we can all agree. As a result of this horrific injustice, our nation is hurting, mad, fearful, resentful, confrontational, radical, sorrowful, and the list of emotions go on and on.
Our community members are demanding change; some peacefully and others through anarchy and complete destruction. We never know what each new day holds. Will there be another protest? Will it be peaceful? Will our town be destroyed? What do we say before, during, after? HOW do we say it?
On a personal level, we watch our family members, colleagues, friends, and even strangers suffer by either words or actions. Our law enforcement friends. Our friends of color. Our law enforcement friends of color. Words hurt. Actions hurt. Lack of action hurts.
We cannot hide from it. We’re embedded. We’re engaged in social media, and those social media posts can be ruthless. We’re passionate about what we do and take things personally, though we try our very best not to. I once had an instructor offer the best piece of advice I’ve ever received, “Listen for understanding, not agreement.” Easier said than done.
I say all this to say… #PIOsMatter. You matter. You not only matter to your communities, but you matter to us. We stand with you. We walk with you. We are here for you. This load is not for you to carry alone. We are a diverse group by every imaginable definition, and our strength is magnified because of that diversity. If you feel overwhelmed, please do not hesitate to reach out to your colleagues within our amazing organization. We are a family; a family that will always build one another up.
May, you continue to stay safe and resilient,
Ashley McDonald
NIOA President
May 19, 2020 | Items of Note, Miscellaneous, Training Opportunities, Training Resources
Engagement Tool for Tennessee Only
Atlas One has developed a new tool for governments to send personalized location-based information to their communities related to active incidents, alerts, events, places, guides, and day-to-day messaging. They are offering a single license for free to every PIO in Tennessee.
Free Webinar for All PIOs
Atlas One will be holding a webinar for PIO’s this Thursday, May 21 at 2:00 pm EST
To learn more about the program Sign Up Here
For more info contact:
Patrick McClean
512-271-2050
patrick@atlas.one
Feb 19, 2020 | Items of Note, NIOA Conference
President Letter Available
Many organizations require a letter of justification or explanation for the annual conference. NIOA President Ashley McDonald has provided a letter that you can download and share with your agency.
