Sensitive issues may limit reports

We have all had the experience of someone spreading rumors about us or distorting the truth about something we have been involved in. Do you remember how it felt? The truth is rarely as interesting as an embellished version of a story.

In the world of policing, we tread a thin line. We have the public’s right to know (sometimes for safety reasons) and the privacy of the individuals involved. We have the added issues of details that need to be kept confidential for investigative purposes (believe it or not people actually confess to crimes they didn’t commit) and the facts that may prevent a future incident.

We are sometimes in a position that we cannot comment on a situation, at that time, because of sensitive issues and family notifications. The appearance can be that police are “covering up” something or neglecting to do their duties.

Please understand that we have to consider the rights of the victim and the rights of the criminal at the same time (we don’t want to hinder any pending charges).

Sometimes, in the quest for “breaking news,” the public and the press stretch the truth based on the limited information given in a specific situation. We implore each of you to consider that when reading or listening to reports you may be privy to.

Let the police and the justice system do their jobs. The information you may think you know may be nothing more than a rumor. Remember how it feels to be the victim of the rumor mill and sometimes people are deceived by those who have axes to grind that we are not aware of. He who yells loudest is not necessarily the rightest.

Now, let’s check out the latest calls.

April 7. See person: A mother wants to report her son refused to go to school because she took his phone and both are disappointed with the end result at 9:06 a.m. in the 500 block of Avenue K.

DUI with crash: The directions to Fremont Street are followed with the driver jumping the curb and hitting a tree at 10:18 p.m. in the 900 block of Nevada Way.

Thought for the day: The tree is dead on arrival, the driver is DUI and the night is a wrap.

April 8. Stolen vehicle: A business vehicle was reported taken during the night at 9:29 a.m. in the 700 block of Canyon Road.

Vandalism: The caller states there is a male spray painting obscene words on the man’s own vehicle at 5:30 p.m. in the 600 block of Avenue A.

Thought for the day: While it’s not officially vandalism if you damage your own car, offensive language is a deal breaker.

April 9. DUI: The reason for the strange driving pattern is soon discovered at 3:03 a.m. in the area of Wyoming Street and California Avenue.

Assist other department: Paramedics request assistance with a subject being transported who is intoxicated and combative at 9:01 p.m. in the 900 block of El Camino Way.

Thought for the day: Drunk and disorderly abounds some nights.

April 10. Suspicious: The officer goes out to a parked vehicle and learns the subject inside is having a bad day and doesn’t want to talk about it at 2:25 a.m. in the area of Buchanan Boulevard and Quail Drive.

Disturbance: The yelling is accentuated with the man walking on the hood of the woman’s vehicle at 7:03 p.m. in the 1300 block of Darlene Way.

April 11. Suspicious: The caller finds it strange that two people are operating heavy equipment at this time of night at 3:35 a.m. in the area of Railroad Pass.

Accident: Reports come in of a vehicle versus a power pole and the pole is now lying in the street at 3:07 p.m. in the 1000 block of Legacy Drive.

Thought for the day: I can’t imagine why anyone would find anything suspicious about road work in the dark.

April 12. Assist other department: Officers assist the constable’s office with several evictions at 9:48 a.m. in the 1500 block of Nevada Highway.

Identity theft: A letter from the bill collector and a demand for hundreds of dollars sends a resident to the department for a report at 2:31 p.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Street.

Thought for the day: A credit monitoring service is almost a necessity these days.

April 13. Family disturbance: The man can avoid temporary protective order service and officer contact for just so long at 8:37 a.m. in the 700 block of Wyoming Street.

Identity theft: The caller reports receiving calls from multiple cellphone companies about purchases attempted using the caller’s credit card at 4:16 p.m. in the 1600 block of Broadmoor Circle.

Thought for the day: Let’s keep in mind our kids are watching the behavior we model during difficult times. Perhaps we should concentrate on setting good examples rather than whining.

Call of the week: Animal: The caller states there is a deceased animal of some kind blocking the driveway and she needs to leave for work. The officer reports the dead bunny is removed and the coast is clear at 7:42 a.m. on April 10 in the 300 block of Montego Lane.

Tina Ransom is a dispatcher with Boulder City Police Department. She is coordinator of the Boulder City Citizen’s Academy.