In the past few weeks, two local teens were killed within days of each other.
Eighteen-year-old Haleei Newton, who had earned her high school diploma just days before, was shot and killed. And an unidentified 14-year-old youth was shot and killed a few days prior to Newton’s homicide.
It’s an absolute tragedy.
However, getting any type of accurate information about the homicides from the Ruston Police Department has been challenging.
The Lincoln Parish Journal and other news media learned of the two homicides long after they occurred. And we learned of the killings through social media and the rumor mill rather than announcements by RPD. And much of the information circulating was incorrect.
Then it took several days to get official details.
Unfortunately, this is the norm.
It has been the experience of Lincoln Parish Journal over the past three-plus years that trying to get information on these types of crimes (and others) has been met with unreturned calls or very little cooperation if any.
This must change. The citizens of Ruston and Lincoln Parish deserve better.
It is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to provide the basic details of crimes, especially violent crimes, to allow the citizens to be aware. And many times, these same citizens may have information that can help with an investigation.
Most law enforcement agencies are proactive with press releases and/or press conferences where they provide the information. They have Public Information Officers (PIOs) who are trained in providing information and messaging. The PIOs take the initiative in informing the public about serious incidents, crime prevention tips, and the work of their agency.
It’s called transparency. It’s also called controlling the message.
An informed citizenry is more likely to be motivated to improve its community, including helping authorities deal with the scourge of crime. Law enforcement must be proactive in informing the public and marshaling all community resources to partner against crime.
When you don’t take the offensive on these types of crimes then rumors and misinformation become rampant on the internet. It is one of the main reasons a law enforcement agency should be proactive in these situations.
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana Tech Police have been great to work with during the past three years. They are very proactive when it comes to providing information on crimes and what the public can do to help.
They return calls. They answer questions where they can. They are transparent.
We are fortunate to have some great men and women working in our local law enforcement and other emergency responder professions, including the Ruston Police Department. And we commend them for their hard work in protecting the residents of Lincoln Parish.
However, the philosophical approach of the Ruston Police Department and its lack of partnership and communication with local media outlets and the public in general is troubling.
Many communities have strong crime prevention programs that focus on informing the public and enlisting their help in fighting crime. That was once a strong emphasis in our community. We’d like to see it return. Social media is a vital tool in communicating with today’s citizens. Fortunately, RPD recently returned to Facebook after a decade-long hiatus. But the public wants more.
The Lincoln Parish Journal is asking Ruston Police Chief Steve Rogers and those in charge to change their approach and become more of a partner with local media and the public instead of staying silent.
The families of two local teens and others deserve it.
This is the opinion of the Lincoln Parish Journal.
