To read the latest Abbotsford Police Department Press Release simply click here.
From the APD website: “The Abbotsford Police Department is an open and transparent organization. It is fully committed to keeping you informed on topics of public interest and how your police department is working to keep you safe. Through its Public Information Officer(s) (PIO), Cst. Ian MacDonald and Cst. Paul Walker, the APD communicates to the public in a variety of ways. In addition to the APD website, the department communicates through media (print, radio, television, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter), the Annual Community Report, and Community Information Forums.”
“A large part of the PIO’s responsibility is to respond to the thousands of media enquiries the department receives every year. The APD believes in a proactive media approach and cooperates fully with all reasonable and lawful requests. The department recognizes the media plays an integral role in keeping the public informed and as safe as possible. In addition to providing information with respect to ongoing investigations the media can be helpful in finding missing persons, identifying/locating suspects, and disseminating public warnings issued by police regarding a particular risk. The APD responds to numerous phone calls and e-mails from the media everyday and issues over 150 news releases every year.”
Why Today Readers Will No Longer Get The APD Version Of Reality
“The Abbotsford Police Department is an open and transparent organization.”
“The department communicates through media (print, radio, television, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter).”
Both of the above statements come from the APD web site. Both leave much to question when it comes to honesty and integrity.
I ask you, is the department open and transparent? I think not, certainly not in view of what has happened in Abbotsford over the past 18 months or so. Among other things, think about how the homeless have been treated/mistreated by APD.
In today’s world of media, the internet plays a significant role in getting information to the world. To Chief Rich and Cst. MacDonald, I say, “check the definition od media in today’s terms”. Yes, the internet is considered a part of “media”. Stop living in the past!
By its name, the Today Media Group is considered to be part of media. Just because they call into question some of the behaviors and actions of some of the members of APD is no reason to “blacklist” them from receiving APD media reports. Remember, Abbotsford Today has also praised APD on many occasions as well.
To Bruce Banman, Chairman of the Police Board, Chief Bob Rich and Cst. Ian MacDonald, do you not think it is time that you give serious re consideration to the “blacklisting” of the Today Media Group before you are forced to reinstate them as an acknowledged media source?
Save yourselves the humility and embarrassment and act now, before it is too late.