New Bedford Police Must Communicate Better [OPINION]

The New Bedford Police Department needs to do a better job of communicating information to the local news media. What we see as a reluctance to cooperate fully with the media is an ongoing problem that needs to be addressed by the Mitchell Administration and Police Chief Joseph Cordiero.

A kid was shot and another injured this week near Temple Landing in the West End of town. Initial reports from witnesses indicated that in fact two individuals had been shot. That later proved to be untrue. Official information about the incident has been scarce and incomplete as police officials have been reluctant to provide details.

The Temple Landing area has been a hotbed for trouble for years. There are many good people who are concerned about their safety and have a right to know what is happening in their neighborhood. When the police won't tell us what is going on, we cannot tell the residents. When information is scarce the rumor mill and social media become the truth.

WBSM understands that the police must be careful about what information can be released to the public during an investigation. We are simply asking that they release non-sensitive details in a more timely and complete fashion so that we may inform the public.

Citizens of New Bedford have a right to know what is going on and whether it be the City's public information officer or that of the police department, regular updates ought to be issued even if they shed a less than positive light on the city.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.