By Igor Studenkov | Bugle Staff
nweditor@buglenewspapers.com
@NilesILNews
The Illinois Association of Police Chiefs hosted what they hope will be the first in a series of presentations designed to improve the relationship between police and media.
The event was held at noon Dec. 8 at the Park Ridge Country Club. In his opening remarks, Park Ridge Police Department Chief Frank Kaminski said he hoped the event would help clear up misunderstandings, and allow journalists and police officers to help each other do their jobs without getting in each others way.
Rob Johnson, a news anchor for CBS 2 Chicago, gave a presentation that laid out the issue from the perspective media professionals. After that, police chiefs and other police officers from across Chicagoland had an opportunity to ask questions and talk about their experiences with the media.
The Illinois Association of Police Chiefs worked together with the North East Illinois Police Public Information Officers Association. Police officers from Niles, Winnetka, Evanston, Chicago, Naperville and other municipalities attended.
Kaminski said that getting information to the media could help police catch criminals. He cited a case from February 2014, when Deangelo Fountain, of Evanston, stole a car with a 5-year-old boy sleeping inside, as an example. Kaminski noted that many police officers are wary of media but said this was something they had to get past.
“Many [officers] would rather go in a dark alley with 20 offenders than talk to media,” he said. “But I think we really ought to work past that.”
Kaminski recalled a course he took in 1988 at the FBI’s Quantico training facility that put the issue in perspective. He said the course taught him that if journalists want to get information, they’re going to do it whether police cooperate or not.
Ultimately, Kaminski argued, it is in the police’s best interests to try to work with reporters – even if they couldn’t always share the information the reporters wanted.
“When we work on criminal investigations, there are certain things you don’t want released,” he said. “I think we can work things out. I’m not sure how, but I think we can have a dialogue.”
While Kaminski didn’t directly discuss the recent controversy over the delayed release of the Laquan McDonald shooting, he did mention “dash cam videos.” He noted that police officers don’t always do the right thing, and that there was nothing wrong with reporters looking into possible misconduct.
“We’re not 100 percent [right]; we don’t always do the right thing,” said Kaminski.“When you mess up, fess and fix it.”
Media’s Take
Johnson spoke next, saying he welcomed a dialogue and cooperation between police and journalists. He added that there are “bad eggs” in every group, including reporters.
Johnson explained why it is important for the police to keep the media informed as much as they can.
“We want to get the story right, and the more you can tell us the better off we’ll be, because we know the information is [accurate],” he said. “We’re going to get the information. It’s a better story if you can get accurate information.”
If the officers don’t get back to reporters with questions, Johnson said, they have to find out the information about the incident another way – and misinformation can creep in. The lack of response could also lead to reporters chasing after stories that aren’t actually urgent. He suggested that there would be an officer on duty who would at least be able to give basic information about what happened. He also recommended using verified social media accounts to get information out.
Before taking questions, Johnson cited the press conference in the wake of the recent mass murder in San Bernadino, California, as an example of a good balance between the needs of police and the needs of the press. He also cited the Lake County Major Crime Task Force’s interactions with press during the recent investigation into the death of officer Joe Gliniewicz as an example of something to avoid. Johnson said the police involved in that case brushed aside any possibility that Gliniewicz killed himself and “smeared” the Lake County coroner who talked to the Chicago Tribune.
Winnetka Police Chief Patrick Kreis said that when police withhold information it’s usually for good reasons.
“I hope you understand and your colleagues understand that our desire to keep the information limited is to protect someone else’s privacy,” he said, adding that it’s usually about keeping names of victims and witnesses concealed.
In those types of cases, Johnson suggested that officers tell reporters their reason for withholding information and said reporters should be accommodating.
Anthony Sciaronne, chief of the Island Lake Police Department, said he is concerned that media reports of shootings wind up glorifying the perpetrators. Johnson said he thinks there’s a time and a place to give information about a shooter, but added that the decision is not made lightly.
“We debate this all the time, about not giving those guys publicity and giving publicity to the victims,” he said. Johnson said the policy in his newsroom is to talk about the perpetrator first and focus on the victims once the information is out.
“After the initial report, we refer to them as “‘shooter,’” he said. “We really try to focus on [the victims] after we’ve done the initial story on the shooter.”
Aside from Johnson, the organizers extended invitations to other area media outlets. Several other reporters attended, including CBS anchor and reporter Mai Martinez.
Martinez argued that profiling shooters does serve a purpose, saying that it could help people spot red flags.
Robert Marshall, the Naperville Police Chief, asked how ratings affect news coverage. Johnson responded by saying that ratings are important to every TV station’s bottom line but said they don’t trump integrity.
“I’ve never heard anyone say – ‘if you don’t get the story, just make something up, because we want to get ratings,’” he said. “We’re guided by our ratings, but it doesn’t cloud us from doing the job right. If you all don’t trust us, that doesn’t help us, because trust and credibility is our currency.”
Lou Jogman, Park Ridge Police Department’s Deputy Chief and community relations officer, asked what police officers should do if an issue with reporters arises. Johnson replied that the officer should bring his concerns to the reporter first, and if that doesn’t work, talk to the reporter’s superior.
Kaminski told the Bugle that he was happy with how the event turned out.
“It’s a good opportunity to open up dialogue,” he said. “I think that’s important.”
Jogmen said he hoped it would be the first in a series of similar events.
“We are thinking about maybe bringing it to the south suburbs and maybe to the western suburbs,” he said.