Joe Gerth,
Who were the 18 Officers promoted to sergeant?
From the headlines on the front page of today's metro section of your paper I would think I would get to learn about the promotions. Where were the Promotions held? Were the Chief and the Mayor there? What was said at the ceremony?
Maybe a little in the article about each of the officers and the jobs they have held on the department. What has the careers of these officers been like? Where do they want to go and what do they want to do? In what ways do they see their new roles interacting with the Community? How many were Former City officers and how many were former County officers, how many were black or white or male or female? Where will they be assigned?
What will their duties be?
Will they under go any special training?
Now that would be NEWS! That's what the public deserves to know.
Was Officer Steimle involved in a shooting? YES Was it a topic of debate? YES
Was he cleared by the Grand jury, Police Department? and the FBI? YES!
Has the public read the story of the shooting over and over again in your paper? YES...
So, why repeat it over and over again in your story?
Why? Because it appears as though your paper has an agenda, and it appears to be one that is very clearly against the men and women of this department.
Eighteen Officers were promoted and the public only now knows a little about two (Hatchell and Pitcock) of them and a little more about one (Steimle) of them. What about the other officers? You did not even print their names!
This was a special moment for the new Louisville Metro Police Department; it is the 1st promotions of the new department. This was a special moment for those officers and their families. The Department deserves better, the officers deserve better and the public deserves better than what you have done. Now look what you have done. SHAMEFUL!
How do you explain all of that Joe?
Sincerely,
David James
President
River City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 614
517 West Breckenridge St.
Louisville, Ky. 40203