A Two-Way Street .....

It’s a good thing when media and law enforcement can get along. Even if it is a sometimes-agreeing-to-disagree-kind of getting along, it’s STILL a good thing … good for news makers, good for news reporters and good for news consumers.

Some are better than others at this. Among law enforcement professionals, county sheriffs tend to be the best at working with the media, at least based on my own experience this past quarter-century in Texas. I’ve wondered if that has something to do with the nature of the sheriff’s position. Sure, it’s a professional law enforcement position … but it’s also a political posting, where you have been placed by the electorate, by the people. And those same people will be re-visiting their decision every four years.

First and foremost, doing your job and doing it well is your primary concern … heck, that goes without saying, and it should be the case for all of us. But on a more personal, career basis, keeping in touch with the people, and keeping them apprised of what you and your staff are doing is another important concern. Let me quickly add, though, that this second concern also ties-in to doing your job better … is there any law enforcement professional out there who insists that connecting with the community is NOT important?

Getting along also helps news reporters. Producing a better report - more comprehensive, more informative, more satisfying to news consumers – is easier when law enforcement cooperates. And that cooperation comes from the knowledge that you will also do your job, and do it well, and do it fairly … even if it’s bad news, which many of us have had to cover at one time or another when officers are confronted with an investigation into their conduct - maybe even charges.

It’s a two-way street. In one direction, keep it simple, keep it straightforward, ask the hard questions, report the answers word-for-word, and be sure to follow-up. In the other direction, make yourself available, keep it simple and straightforward, answer those questions, and don’t be afraid to ask for help getting the word out, and raise concerns over excesses or shortcomings .

It’s a good thing … good for you, good for us, good for everybody.

BTW: The photo at the head of this post was taken last week, outside the Pecos County Courthouse Annex. That's Bill Warren and his crew from KOSA-TV. The big guy with the hat is Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter ... of all the law enforcement professionals I have worked with across West Texas, he probably has the best rapport with the media.