Palo Alto PD Hires Veteran TV Reporter As Public Affairs Manager

PALO ALTO, CA – A veteran TV news reporter started her new role Tuesday as public affairs manager for the Palo Alto Police Department, city officials announced in a news release. Janine De La Vega will be a key member of the police management team, acting as the department’s lead spokesperson and coordinating all aspects of public communications to include news releases, social media platforms, public service announcements, crime prevention campaigns, community outreach, website content and more, city officials said.

De La Vega brings almost 20 years of experience as a general assignment and breaking news broadcast journalist in the Bay Area. She hails from KGO-TV after working for KTVU for 12 years and a five-year stint at KLAS-TV in Las Vegas.

"I’m confident that our residents and media partners alike will find the addition of Janine to our team enhances even further our commitment to transparency, and builds on our reputation for providing critical public safety information in a timely and factual way," said Palo Alto police Chief Robert Jonsen. "Janine’s background and experience, coupled with her familiarity with the demands placed on today’s journalists, make her a perfect fit for us."

The public affairs manager is a new position within the department, authorized by the Palo Alto City Council for this fiscal year’s budget. Since 2011, public affairs responsibilities for the department were handled by Capt. Zach Perron, who currently has command responsibility of the Field Services Division (patrol, traffic and special operations).

De La Vega successfully completed a competitive selection process which began in September 2017 with more than 80 applicants, according to the news release. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Santa Clara University, and is fluent in Spanish. Her annual salary has been set at $125,000.

Photo courtesy Palo Alto Police Department