It must be heady stuff to be a writer for a newspaper and to be able to write all about things of which you have little knowledge, pretending to be an expert. A clear example of such occurred in the fatal injury of a motorist on I-630 on Saturday, May 28, 2005. A chunk of concrete thrown from an overpass smashed through the windshield, which resulted in the death of the driver. It was a tragedy and was totally unnecessary by anyone’s standards.

Then on June 1, 2005, Arkansas Democrat Gazette writers, Linda Caillouet and Meredith Oakley, each performed another unnecessary acts when they wrote their articles about the way the Arkansas State Police and their spokesman, Bill Sadler performed in reference to questions about the event. The word event that Sadler used really twisted Oakley’s jaws. Caillouet was out of sorts because the police hadn’t told the paper anything that they (the paper) decided they needed know.

These two ladies need to understand a few things about police work. One, a good spokesman and officers don’t begin to talk before they have facts and there are certain facts which can’t be made public due to the nature of some investigations. Too much information to the public can hinder what would be a successful conclusion to a troublesome case.  In this matter, they weren’t sure what did happen until some detective work was done and then it was their judgment to keep some things out of the public so as not to hinder the collection of facts and statements from witnesses. (Having spent a lot of years behind a badge I know whereof I write.)  It is a balancing act and it isn’t easy to do.

Meredith Oakley seemed to take the tack that Sadler was uncaring, disdainful, and cold in his assessment of the tragedy. Apparently when the police didn’t become emotional over this situation and jump through the hoops that Oakley thought they should have, she formed the opinion that their attitude was that they didn’t care for the public’s safety.   

Now for the second part of the understanding which is very vital to a successful solution of a case. One of the worst things a police officer can do is become emotional, as did Caillouet and Oakley, and go off half cocked with preconceived notions. If a case is approached with nothing but emotion then disastrous results will certainly occur.  Police officers do become emotional when working cases, but they have to learn to hold it in check and not become personally involved emotionally, though in some cases that might be difficult to do.  Bill Sadler displayed professionalism and stated facts which oft times aren’t well liked by emotionally driven people, newspaper people included.

On the same day, June 1, a story on the front page of the paper announced the apprehension and arrest of the perpetrator of the crime. Though the writers didn’t think much was being done, the police were busy tracking down the man that threw the object off the overpass. The investigation bore fruit and now one more menace to society is off the streets, at least for awhile.

The two writers need to apologize to the Arkansas State Police in general and in particular to Bill Sadler and the officers who worked the case. But don’t hold your breath since those who know it all are loath to admit they don’t. But take solace. In this matter when they jumped they fell flat on their faces. It is comforting to know that true professionals did the successful police work instead of emotionally driven keyboard whackers.

© 06-04-2005 DEC