HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-17-2000 Articles 'nion
Thursday,
August 17,
Iowa City Press-Citizen 2000
Public needS crime information
The police ask for public The public, when it offers better response to communi-
support and have pressed information, expects to see a ty needs and a special
the issue to have the public response to what it has "team" to resl~nd to situa-
advise them of suspected reportod. It expeets to see its tions which have or may
ctSmes, problems, ac~dons of police department at work. become a problem as a
individuals. Be assured com- The Iowa City Police result of poor handling,
munity involvement of this Citizens Review Board now release of incomplete or
t~pe will be reduced signifi- feels the public should not insufficient initial informa-
cantly if the police put a plan be aware of area crimes that tion; improper repet~ng, etc.
into action to limit informa- may make a public 'stink." Barbitra Shepherd
tion~ Consider better training, Iowa City
* · · Page 9A
p l Monday,
· August 14,
Iowa City Press-Citizen 2000
Keep the
public
informed
Hard to figure. When push comes to
Iowa City's Police Let's say second that The issue: shove, it seems the board
Citizens Review Board this only benefits people · Police review board mostly might be worried
wants to limit access to -- police or board mem- wants to limit crime inf0r- that officem could offer
public infom~ation, bers -- who have some- opinions. Good golly,
Again. thing to hide. It certainly marion going to the pub- what's wrong with that?
Remember the history doesn't benefit the public, lic. Those opinions often give
of this organization. After The board has suggest- the public needed infor-
much hand-wringing, it ed that Police Chief R~J. We suggest: marion. Think of it:
was established by the Winkelhake assign just · This is simply wrong. Reporter:. "Officer
City Council in response one person -- and only rile public needs more Kmmpke, 12 people have
tothekiIlingoflocalartist one -- to be a spokesman information-more been murdered on this
Eric Shaw. Police were during cases that are con-
investigating an open trovemial or likely to lead access - not less. one block in the last
week. Would you recom-
door at Shaw's studio late to lawsuits, mend that residents lock
in the night, and a jittery We assume this person out to the bosxd, the their doors?"
officer shot him. would work 24 hours a Officer Krumpke: "I'd
The board was to be an day, seven days a week department already has a
overnight group, investi- and be omniscient -- spokesman. That person hate to offer an opinion."
gating complaints against knowing in advance is only scheduled to work whatIt'Sthehardboardt° isfath°maboub
police, which cases would be 40 hours a week, so We thought it was formed
One of the first things controversial or litigious. Winkelhake is under-
the board and council did And, by the way, all standably reluctant to to help shed light on the
was figure out how to members of the depart- restrict what other offi- police department and
keep much of the work ment should avoid offer- cers can say. rebuild confidence in
And, "Anything we do Iowa City law enforce-
secret. That became a pat- ing their opinions, could be one of those menL
tern. Asortof"jnstthefacts, (controversial) inci- Rather, it seems to
Now, the board wants ma'am" approach, dents," he said. "We treat want to limit what the
to limit the amount of As Wrmkelhake pointed them all the same." public knows.
information the public That's as it should be. Whom this would
has about cringes and serve is anyone's guess.
police inves~gations. But it certainly won't
Let's say first that this serve the public.
is beyond the purpose of
the board.