Officer names in the newspaper
Good give and take with a reader regarding this item in yesterday's Sun and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin:
Police officers cleared in fatal shooting
The killing of Robert Anthony Serrano, 32, by Ontario police officers Bryce Devey, Gabriel Gutierrez and Guillermo Rivera was legally justified, according to a review by the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office.
The officers used deadly force on March 20 in response to a threat of death or great bodily injury, the report said.
Witnesses confirmed the officers' testimonies.
Emailer:
Why would you put the officers names in the paper for this article? Is that just ignorant? Is the officers safety an interest to the Daily Bulletin? Could the article have just said 3 Ontario officers? Just Curious........ Thanks for taking the time to answer this?
Me:
Typically we would not put officers' names in the paper, but when the story elevates to this level - an officer involved shooting - it is such a matter of public interest that we do feel it necessary to publish. Bear in mind that when these kinds of stories originally develop (ie, at the time of the shooting), the officers' names are broadcast and published; we'd be remiss if we didn't make it clear that they were cleared. Thank you again. You raise an important point, and one that we do discuss.
Emailer:
Thank you for the response Steve. Have you taken a look at the first sentence of the article itself? "the KILLING of Anthony Serrano by Ontario PD"? Is that a fair statement or would it not be better to say something a little more politically correct? Those officers that protect you and I, did not KILL that man! Was it not the ramification of the crime he committed? This is why people and communities are getting angry with the press and media. Sympathizing with the criminal and their families instead of the officers who risk their lives each and every day! I really understand that it was an officer involved shooting, but to put the names in the paper and advertise to the names of the officers to the friends and relatives of the suspect is not only wrong (morally and ethically), it puts them at danger. Again thanks for your time communicating with me.
What say you?
Comments
I agree with the reader. "Killing" isn't how I would classify the incident; "fatal shooting" would be more accurate. The shooting occurred in the line of duty. There will be a review of the incident by the authorities and IF the officers acted in an inappropriate manner, they will be taken care of - but this is American and we still have a justice system that is based on "innocent until proven guilty". Remember - that's why you have to put "accused" in front of the term child molester, etc.
Also, listing the officers names in the newspaper puts them and their families at risk.
Posted by: Molly | October 1, 2008 4:22 PM
I too think the word killing is too strong, too provocative.
I am on the fence about the use of their names.
Posted by: Steve | October 2, 2008 7:32 PM
Different words have different connotations, but let's not pretend that the officers did not, in fact, kill Serrano. They did.
Posted by: Mason | October 10, 2008 12:34 PM