RE: Broadcast bulletins to alert Mainers to child abductions

["Paul Hopfgarten" <paul@03038.com>]

However, the TURF thing is VERY STRONG among Police. I can say that from 1st
hand experience as an elected official.

If the Local PD has to ask the Staties for help, they feel that they've
failed and they're nervous about the Staties invading their "turf". I think
that has ALOT to do with the reasons for some delay in police action...


Only thing worse than TURF is the BROTHERHOOD crap where good cops (almost)
NEVER rat on a bad cop. Same for Doctors, Same for Lawyers, Same for most
every profession...

Paul Hopfgarten
PO Box 279
East Derry NH 03041
(V) 603-426-5159
(F) 603-437-7080
(C) 603-571-5445
paul@03038.com


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org
> [mailto:owner-boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org]On Behalf Of Aaron
> [Bishop] Read
> Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 3:02 PM
> To: Dave Faneuf
> Cc: bri@bostonradio.org
> Subject: Re: Broadcast bulletins to alert Mainers to child abductions
>
>
> At 01:41 PM 8/22/2002, Dave Faneuf wrote:
> >The other major flaw is getting timely and accurate information.  I
> >recall a Lowell girl was missing a couple of years ago, it was 3 or 4
> >DAYS before the police went public and that was only AFTER the family
> >contacted Channel 5.  It has been my experience that departments don't
> >like to go to other agencies for help so it begs the question will the
> >local departments be quick to contact State Police or whatever agency is
> >designated to operate Amber Alert in time that it would make a
> >difference?
> >df
>
> There are many very legitimate reasons why a police agency would not want
> to go public about a kidnapping.  Sometimes the media coverage will "egg
> on" a kidnapper to act rashly and kill the abductee.  Sometimes
> the police
> are withholding vital info that only the kidnapper would know so as to
> distinguish between fake copycats and the real thing.  There are other
> reasons, too.
>
> It's not uncommon for parents to not understand, or not care, about these
> reasons.  Being the parent tends to reduce one's objectivity (no kidding!
> :-)  and they can often think the police are being slow and/or
> unresponsive
> to their desires.  Perhaps in some cases the parent is right and
> the police
> ARE being slow and/or unresponsive.  But rarely is a parent in a good
> position to make an objective judgement on that call.  As such, going to
> the media can often be the worst thing the parents can do.   Not
> to mention
> that parent has now poisoned the relationship with the police and will
> likely not receive full - or any - cooperation besides the bare
> minimum of
> what is required.  Think about it - you've done your job for 15
> years; you
> feel you're pretty good at it.  Do you want some no-name somebody who
> doesn't know squat about what you do to make you look bad on regional (or
> national) TV saying that you're an idiot and should be fired?  I sure
> wouldn't be inclined to go the extra mile for that person after a stunt
> like that.
>
> That said, I'm not really disagreeing with Dave's points above...they're
> quite valid as well.  But obviously once a parent has forced the police's
> hand then there's little reason to not go full public then.
>
>
> ____________________________________________
> Aaron "Bishop" Read     aread@speakeasy.net
> FriedBagels.com Technical Consulting
> www.friedbagels.com   AOL-IM: ReadAaron
>