Roundup Editorial Board
The job of a college campus sheriff can be a challenging one.
From dealing with rebellious students to restroom fires or malice, the job can be strenuous. Surely, having to deal with the press doesn’t make the job any easier.
A major responsibility for sheriffs is maintaining student safety. Our major responsibility is reporting the news.
With that said, the press can be of help.
As journalists, we are taught to seek truth and report it. Meaning covering any incidents that take place, whether they’d be major or minor. For sheriffs trying to maintain a good image, that could spell trouble.
Sheriffs at Pierce do a great job at giving parking citations and keeping the campus safe. Unfortunately, the same can’t always be said about working with the press.
Now we as the press don’t wear a cape or have a badge or a gun, but we can be of help by informing students of any crimes and other safety issues related to the campus.
Of course to do our part we need our sheriff’s cooperation.
However, that can be like finding a parking spot in Lot 1 on a Monday morning.
What the sheriffs don’t see, is that the press can be a voice for them and help increase students’ well-being by warning them of any potential dangers on campus.
Every sheriff or police station has designated media relations personnel who deal with the press. Now, being that this is a community college, there is a certain amount of officers allotted and assignments are limited.
A media relations representative from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. (LASD) recommended we speak to a “watch commander” at the campus station for any incidents that occur on campus.
At Pierce the highest level of power within the sheriffs is a team leader.
Usually the team leader is the one who speaks to the press. But, what happens when the team leader is not available? Are we supposed to wait for their return?
By the time they return, 10 other incidents might take place that we would also have no vetted information about, because we lack sheriff input.
The LASD rep also stated she was unsure if a team leader classifies as a watch commander.
At least if you’re going to have us waiting, be of help when we get the pleasure to speak to you.
In our journalism classes, we are taught to strike when the iron is hot. So waiting for someone to return cannot only be a hassle, but can also conflict with our schoolwork.
As a friendly suggestion, each sheriff should be allowed to speak to us. If not, there should be a designated deputy who is allowed to speak to us during every shift.
Also, we understand the job can be stressful (as can ours) but, we would greatly appreciate it if you treated us as you would treat the mainstream media by not giving us answers like, “You were there, didn’t you see what happened?”
You wouldn’t give mainstream media an answer like that.
(No, officer. If we saw what happened we wouldn’t be badgering you for answers.)
We have the upmost respect for you and expect nothing but the same in return, as students first, as journalists second. Remember, our grade somewhat depends on you.
Our goal isn’t to make you look bad or give you a bad name. We are just trying to do our job, as are you.
We believe that working together as a team can benefit us both and form something great.
The Roundup looks forward to working with you.
