The Griffith Police Department is still reaping the benefits of a communication audit per-formed by Purdue University Northwest Public Relations students nearly one year ago.
These students researched the communication processes of the department by utilizing benchmarking, interviews, focus groups, and surveys to find any communication flaws.
Many of these recommendations have since been implemented and improved the relations among officers and staff.
“We now have a quarterly newsletter and our mission statement is prominently dis-played,” said Griffith Police Chief Greg Mance. “We now have more frequent meetings in smaller groups and more effective communication in general.”
The process of a communication audit involves the full cooperation of the organization on which the service is being performed. The students had a great working relationship with Mance and his department.
“I was impressed by the level of seriousness and professionalism of the students,” said Mance. “My staff and officers felt very comfortable working with the Purdue students.”
A communication audit normally costs up to $50,000. The Purdue students, however, provide their services free of charge and only require a fraction of the normal price to pay for sup-plies. The skill and quality of work done by the students is no less than that of another public rela-tions firm.
“The region is sometimes thought to be lower quality or only blue collar,” said Mance. “These students proved that the region, and Purdue Northwest specifically, is producing high caliber professionals who are capable of great work.”
The work done in a communication audit can increase productivity over time and surge morale. This has certainly been the case at the Griffith Police Department.
“The work these students did greatly improved and enhanced the morale of our officers and staff since their voices were more fully heard as a result of the audit,” said Mance.
Public relations students from Purdue Northwest have performed communication audits on other organizations such as BP Whiting Refinery, Graycor, Nipsco, Strack & Van Til, and the South Shore CVA. This years’ students are now looking for a client to perform the 27th annual communication audit. For more information, call Region Communication Solutions at 219-501-0271 or email at RegionComSolutions@gmail.com.