Posts tagged Police
Boulder Police chief Mark Beckner asks media vampires to “would you Please!”
Aug 24th
One recommendation we have to Chief Beckner is for the Boulder PD to put up Media information on their website. The following is Mark Beckners’ letter to the media:
Dear members of the media:
As you know, we are a mid-size agency in a college town with lots of activity that tends to draw media attention. Unfortunately, we only have one PIO. While we take our media relationships, opportunities and responsibilities seriously, it is not reasonable to ask or expect one person to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have established some guidelines in the past with previous PIO’s and identified procedures the media should follow in getting updates or information after hours. Over time, and as turnover has occurred, these procedures have not been utilized. Although not new, I’d like to remind everyone of what these procedures are.
- · Our PIO is generally available (303-441-3370) and happy to help you with all your inquiries during normal working hours (M-F, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, with the exception of holidays and vacation). If you would like an update on a major case, we request that you call toward the end of the normal work day (M-F, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm) to obtain the latest information, rather than waiting until the evening hours to call. If not immediately available during business hours, our PIO will get back to you as soon as possible.
- · If you have routine questions or want some information on something that has happened or is happening after hours, the proper procedure is to call our dispatch center at 303-441-3333. Dispatch will field your request and forward it to an on-duty supervisor who will get back to you as soon as he/she can. Calling our PIO after hours is not helpful, as she is unlikely to have immediate access to the information.
- · We recommend that weekend reporters look ahead for stories they may wish to cover on the weekends and conduct any necessary interviews in advance. Unless something new develops or assistance is requested by an incident commander, our PIO will not be available for standup interviews to help media organizations catch up on stories that occurred during the work week.
- · Should we have a major event or major crime develop after hours that we know will attract a lot of immediate media attention, or there is a public safety need to get the information out quickly, the incident commander will contact our PIO to assist with providing you with information in a timely manner. This may occur in the form of a press release and phone interviews or the PIO responding to the scene. If the PIO is not available, someone will be assigned to act as a PIO for the particular incident, usually a Sergeant or Commander
- · If you need a copy of a closed or cleared report, you may contact our Records and Information Services unit (RIS) at 303-441-3300. This number may be called at any time of day as RIS is typically available 24 hours a day (except some holidays). RIS is the only unit that can release reports. Calling the PIO for a copy of a report can actually take more time, as she has to relay the request to RIS for processing. The RIS staff will be able to tell you if the report is available to the public. Reports on open investigations are generally not available to the public. Our PIO can answer questions about individual cases or provide general information, but is not expected to read case reports to reporters over the phone.
Please know that it is unlikely that an after-hours on-duty supervisor will be able to give you updates on cases being investigated by detectives or those that occurred on a previous shift. For these situations, it is best to check in with the PIO during regular hours. If something new should happen in one of these types of cases after hours and immediate release of this information is necessary, the detective commander will contact the PIO and ask her to alert you
We are committed to be as informative as possible and we greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with you on communicating important public safety information. These procedures are intended to help meet your needs while recognizing the staffing limitations of our department.
Please let me know if you have any questions about these procedures. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Mark R. Beckner
Chief of Police
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder police investigate third armed robbery
Aug 17th
A woman returning home a little after 11 p.m. last night told police that she had been robbed at gunpoint as she was gathering items out of her car in a parking garage at 2301 Pearl Street.
This is the third armed robbery involving a similar suspect description in Boulder since Aug. 11, and police are reminding residents to be alert to their surroundings. Police are also asking people to call 9-1-1 if they see anything suspicious. Extra patrols will be on duty over the next several days, especially in the Boulder Creek Bike Path area.
Last night’s armed robbery occurred in the parking garage of the apartment complex at 2301 Pearl. When the 40-year-old victim arrived at the garage, she noticed a Hispanic male riding a bike through the parking garage. As she was collecting her purse and other items from her trunk, she saw him circle back around.
As she continued up the stairs, the suspect pointed a handgun at her. He asked her what she was carrying, and she asked him not to hurt her. She gave the suspect her purse and most of her packages. The victim told police the suspect lifted the hem of her dress to view her underwear, and that he grabbed her wrist and placed her hand on his groin. At that time, she says someone else in the garage made a noise which startled the suspect, and he fled on foot. She was not hurt.
The victim notified a friend, who called police.
The victim described the suspect as:
· Hispanic male with a round face
· In his 20s
· About 5’6” tall
· Short, “spiky” hair
· Wearing blue jeans
· Riding a red beach-cruiser style bicycle
Police are investigating a similar armed robbery that took place around 4 p.m. Monday in the 500 block of Canyon, along the Boulder Creek Bike Path. Three women were robbed of their purses at gunpoint by a Hispanic male, who fled eastbound on the path on a silver bike.
Detectives are also working in cooperation with the University of Colorado Police Department. On Aug. 11, a Hispanic suspect armed with a handgun robbed a female student on campus. The victim was not injured.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Boulder Police Department’s Tip Line at 303-441-1974. Those who have information but wish to remain anonymous may contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at www.crimeshurt.com. Those submitting tips through Crime Stoppers that lead to the arrest and filing of charges on a suspect(s) may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers.