Even after many years as a journalist - more years than I'm beginning to care to remember - I still can't quite completely understand why there is such an inherent distrust between reporters and police officers.
I was a member of a media panel yesterday afternoon at St. Cloud State University. It's part of the FBI-sponsored Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS), a training program for some 40 members of law enforcement from across the state. This class included approximately 40 police officers ranging from Lieutenants to Chiefs and Sheriffs. This was my third year taking part in the panel.
I always enjoy the experience and it makes for very lively and engaging discussion about the merits of certain stories, why it's important for law enforcement to provide information about incidents, why getting out in front on community issues is better than catching up later.
And, of course, the trust issue always comes up.
It was suggested that perhaps it's a matter of control. Once you talk to a reporter, you have no control over how that interview is used and in what context. That's probably true for anyone who is interviewed for a story, not just police officers. I might feel the same way if the tables were turned.
I argue that law enforcement has a great deal of control.
Getting out front and coming forward quickly on an issue or an incident puts you in the driver's seat. Be prepared with valid and meaningful information and your community will learn from you. I can understand the distrust. But reach out to experienced journalists you can connect with and you'll find most of us are human too. We don't aim to be inaccurate, unfair and biased.
The heart of what we do - and the passion that drives most of us - is the total opposite of that.
Anyway, I truly enjoyed my time at LEEDS this week. I hope I was able to shed some light on the mystery of the media. I think journalists and police officers are probably more similar than either of us care to admit.