Communication for Coproduction in Public Safety: Does the Messenger Matter?

A disconnect exists between government calls for citizen coproduction and public response. Effective communication may bridge this gap. This study investigates whether the deliberate choice of messenger, as a key element of communication design, affects public willingness to coproduce. Focusing on public safety, we examine whether different messengers—Civilian Review Board (CRB) vs. Public Information Officer (PIO)—impact citizens’ intention to cooperate with law enforcement when communicating public safety information. While CRBs that institutionalize civic participation are expected to be more effective, our experiment finds no messenger effects. However, certain citizen characteristics consistently predict views on police, public safety, and coproduction willingness. We discuss these findings and their implications for police communication strategies and future research.