Idaho Falls mayor tells police to limit 'troublesome info' to public - East Idaho News
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Idaho Falls mayor tells police to limit ‘troublesome info’ to public

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IDAHO FALLS — How much information should the city send out about crime and emergencies?

That was the private debate between Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper and Police Chief Bryce Johnson during the busy news week of Jan. 22.

Emails and text messages obtained by EastIdahoNews.com through a public records request show Casper became concerned with the amount of information the police department was releasing to the media and public.

Her feelings seemed to be different four months ago when she was running for re-election. During an EastIdahoNews.com election forum, she said she and the city were transparent.

“Transparency is such a popular concept. It actually refers to how open and understandable and accessible your government is,” Casper said in October. “We (the city) have a new and improved website, we participate in apps that help citizens access information, we maintain a wide variety of social media pages (and) we participate in sending out press releases, sometimes multiple press releases in a single day, just to share with the public what kinds of things are going on.”

Although Casper seemed to have no problem with the city sending multiple press releases a day during the election, she did last month.

Jan. 22

On the morning of Monday, Jan. 22, an 11-year-old boy didn’t show up to school, so the Idaho Falls Police Department sent out an email and text alert at 9:30 a.m. The child was found at Walmart a short time later thanks to public notifications.

At 10:30 a.m., another news release was distributed from the police department about Matthew Jedediah “Jed” Hall, a distraught teenager who left his home with firearms. Police didn’t believe Hall was a danger to others, but schools on the west side of Idaho Falls were locked down as a precaution.

Unfortunately, Hall is still missing.

Several hours later, the police department sent one more release about slick roads encouraging drivers to use caution after 15 crashes happened.

Jan. 23

The next day, on Jan. 23, Casper emailed Chief Johnson the following message:

I have some mild concern about all of the news out of the department yesterday. The multiple press releases on the child who was missing for a few hours and the multiple releases about the vehicle (Hall was driving) that also caused schools to shelter in place cumulatively made an impression on residents. I worry about the anxiety level. And this was capped off by another release urging residents to stay home because of poor weather/slick roads. I am all for informing residents when warranted, but we may need to look at thresholds. Too much sharing of troublesome info can become its own problem.

In the email, Casper requested a meeting with the chief, and he agreed.

A few hours later, an Idaho Falls Police officer shot and killed Shane McVey on Boulevard after investigators say McVey ran from them and displayed a weapon.

Johnson was on the scene, along with Public Information Officer Holly Cook, who provided information to EastIdahoNews.com and other media.

A news release went out, and that evening, Casper emailed Johnson and Cook:

I would prefer that we message minimally on this story from here on out. It appears that we’ve already put out two news flashes on this, and that should be enough for today. … I’m anxious that we convey a sense of order. That this is being turned over to the ISP is enough. We can be silent about the rest. … Pumping out seven or more news releases and a press conference within 48 hours is a lot. I never want to convey a sense of disorder in our community and a barrage of messages may start to do that.

Cook responded:

I’ve only submitted one news release, so I’m not sure to what you’re referring…All I have done today is facilitate media interviews, put out one Newsflash and press release. I’ve also put out two tweets regarding traffic in the area.

Casper also sent this text message to Johnson:

After the wild day we had yesterday, my sense is that whatever you can do to tone things down and convey a sense of order will be very important.

Johnson responded:

Yes. … We will still need to talk about yesterday. There are compelling safety reasons why we talked about all three of the events.

Two hours later, a drive-by shooting was called into police, and Johnson sent this text message to Casper:

When you can, please give me a call. We have had a drive-by shooting this evening and will need to get some info out in that.

Information was never sent to media outlets about the shooting that evening or the next day.

Jan. 24

The next morning, at 5:05 a.m., Johnson sent this message to Casper:

Sorry, but there’s more. There were two armed robberies early this morning … The same suspect did both robberies. We were able to identify and apprehend the robber so he is in custody. We will need to put information out on this as well.

Casper responded:

Wow. If we have apprehended the suspect, why do we need to put information out right away? Can’t this just be part of the daily summary? I’m not opposed to sharing information, it is just that not each and every incident merits its own press release.

Johnson wrote back:

Armed robbery is one of the most serious person crimes that there is. It is just a step below murder or aggravated sexual assault. Having two committed in short order is even more serious. That the robberies occurred will already be out there in the rumor mill and social media. It is important to get the accurate information out, especially that the suspect is in custody so there is no ongoing threat to the community. I will work on the timing of when it goes out, but we do need to get the accurate information out.

Casper responded:

If there is no immediate threat to the public, the report can wait until we put out the summary of daily activity. … Perhaps we can discuss establishing and/or re-establishing reporting protocols on this when we meet.

Johnson said:

I will do what you ask, but I think we do need to talk. The one way to ensure that crime happens is to not be aware of it. The entire philosophy of community-oriented policing is that crime is a community problem, and the community and police have to work together to solve it. That can’t happen if the community doesn’t know the reality of what occurs.

And Casper responded:

For the most part I agree. I am not suggesting that we not share the news. I just believe that we can limit our press releases to a single summary notice each day. We can deviate from that when immediate public safety is threatened.

The Idaho Falls Police Department never sent a release on the armed robberies, instead the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office sent out the release.

Both agencies were involved in the investigation, and Cook tells EastIdahoNews.com the sheriff’s office offered to send the release because the IFPD was so busy.

That same day, emails show a Post Register editor contacted Cook to ask why the police department did not send anything out on the drive-by shooting or the armed robbery.

Cook emailed the mayor:

I just wanted you to know that this is the third call I have received about the lack of notification on incidents like these. … I have followed the direction you gave me to stop sending out press releases. I did send out the incident report as you directed. … I do understand your point that negative incidents “convey a sense of disorder.” That being said, we can’t control when significant events occur. I truly believe these are opportunities to show that our officers are well-trained, professional and have an expressive record of apprehension of criminals.

Communication meetings

A few days later, the mayor called a meeting with Johnson, Cook and other city public information officers.

Then, on Feb. 5, Johnson appeared before the Idaho Falls City Council and explained when and how the department will release information.

police city council
Police Chief Bryce Johnson speaks with the Idaho Falls City Council on Feb. 5 about communication policies. | Mike Price, EastIdahoNews.com

He said news releases are distributed in the following situations:

  1. Public safety messages – if there is an ongoing threat to the public.
  2. Major and significant crimes are committed.
  3. Issues of public interest such as snowstorms.
  4. Stories involving animals.
  5. Information where the public can help the police department.
  6. Missing child cases.
  7. Incidents where the department is proud of officers’ work.

Johnson, Casper respond to EastIdahoNews.com

Following the meeting, EastIdahoNews.com spoke with Casper and Johnson about the email and text messages.

“To me there’s no story there. I had questions, I asked questions, got answers to questions, and we moved forward,” Casper said. “There was one message that I received about eight different notifications. That seemed at the time overwhelming. That’s when I hopped on and sent an email saying, ‘What’s going on? Why is there so much going out?'”

CASPER STILL
Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper speaks with EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton. | Mike Price, EastIdahoNews.com

Johnson said he and Casper have “been on the same page” about communicating with the public, and they are still learning about each other as Johnson has only been police chief for five months.

johnson still
Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson speaks with EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton. | Mike Price, EastIdahoNews.com

“She loves her city, and I love the city too,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately we had everything happen all at once, and we had to do some stuff right on the fly. She’s my boss, and she’s answerable to the people, and I’m answerable to her. As we’ve talked, she understood exactly what I was trying to say.”

Casper said Johnson and Cook handle communication for the police department, and she does not get involved with news releases unless she needs to add a quote.

As for Johnson, he said he does not want an adversarial relationship with the media, and he will keep the public informed even if it means more than one news release on certain days.

“I learned a long time ago that the public is going to find out what you’re doing eventually, no matter what you do,” he said. “I’m a public servant. This is a public organization, and it’s going to become public knowledge. Our philosophy is to be upfront and honest and get as much information out as quickly as we can.”

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