POLICE PROBE SHOULDN'T TRUMP SAFETY

When did law enforcement decide it's OK to withhold important safety
information from the public? Thursday's shooting scene in
Blanchardville is one example in recent years where police issue a
routine statement that everything is "isolated" and "no suspects are
at large" only to later reveal the opposite.

In the Blanchardville case, police were told in the 911 call that
shots were fired at a dark-colored minivan as it sped away from the
shooting scene. County officers then found a scene of guns, ammo,
drugs and shooting victims and then tell the public there is no
danger. OK, so the person or persons in the getaway car were not yet
suspects. Are we supposed to believe there was no danger to the public?

Law enforcement's need to protect the investigation should not trump
their obligation to warn the public. Routine statements that the
public is not in any danger sound like they are coming from a public
relations firm instead of the police.

Stan Scharch

Madison