Assistant Chief: "Not a Good Ending"

BHS student March 21, 2011 at 05:02 am

Dear Patch.
please dont write a report on things this early

kcs261 March 21, 2011 at 08:50 pm

I am glad this story was reported on by patch. Citizens need to know what is taking place in their neighborhoods. Otherwise, citizens see tons of cop cars lined up, the SWAT team and a street blocked off and have NO idea what is taking place. Yes, there should be dignity and respect for the family of this individual. But needless fear for those who live nearby is not justified, either. People deserved to know what happened or else everybody is just going to live in fear: Is there somebody on the loose who is a danger to others? People deserve to know.

Ryan Martin (Editor) March 21, 2011 at 09:11 pm

It was definitely a difficult situation to be in as a journalist. I considered whether or not I should publish the piece last night for the reasons you give, and I hope I made the right decision. Thank you for your note.

kcs261 March 21, 2011 at 10:43 pm

Publishing this story was the right move. The police simply told neighbors that there was an "upset individual" and that we should stay away from our windows. Meanwhile, there was the SWAT team and police everywhere. This went on for 6-hours. You'd think the neighborhood was being invaded. We deserved to know what happened. For that to happen, and nobody to be told anything, would have been ridiculous. Was there somebody loose who is dangerous? Is that person still loose? As a parent, with kids, people deserved to know what happened in a general sense. Nobody needs to disclose the individual's name if it was a suicide or the details of the act. But we all deserve to know that our neighborhood is now safe. This is just common sense.

Josh March 22, 2011 at 01:37 am

I'm with you, kcs261. "Just stay away from your windows"...that's real comforting. In this type of situation, people need to be informed. Good job, Patch.

kcs261 March 22, 2011 at 01:48 am

The Patch, Fox2News and KPLR are the only places to report this story. I personally called KSDK last night (in the hopes that somebody would give me the scoop because even in calling the police department in the middle of this, they would say nothing) and they didn't pick up the story because, presumably, reporting a suicide is not viewed as tasteful. But why? If this guy had shot a couple people in the process, it would be big news. But because it was only a suicide, nobody can say anything about it? Kudos to the Patch for being the ONLY place to actually report what happened (i.e reporting the suicide). I'd still be sitting here tonight completely in the dark but for this article. It's a relief to me and my family to at least know what happened -- and to know that we're safe tonight. 6 hours is almost a whole work day. This was quite a long-time to endure this situation not to know what happened. I had the cops parked in my driveway and unloading the SWAT team right in front of my house--and they wouldn't tell me anything except what I stated above. Insane.

David Fincher March 22, 2011 at 04:11 pm

I still don't know who the victim was, or why it happened. It doesn't seem to be newsworthy for some reason, but I commend you for printing it. Thank you.

Concernedcitizen9 March 22, 2011 at 09:53 pm

I agree, the POLICE could let you know if you are safe in your homes. It's not tasteful to pick up a story in those circumstances. If it were your family or dear friend you might get that. Further more, if you were sensitive to that, you wouldn't say, "just a suicide" He didn't shoot a couple people (as you said, if) and was never a threat to anyone but himself because his life fell into tragedy beyond his control. He was a victim of it. Now his family and friends are dealing with loss and tragedy. Sorry you were inconvenienced for 6 hrs, but try to look beyond yourself and realize this is still going on for some. All you need to know and yes, deserved to know was the status of your safety. I don't believe a private tragety has to be "newsworthy" and you deserve information such as his name or why it happened. A good reporter reports facts that impact others issues such as safey, not tragic details for gawking at and judgement. They reported all you need to know. It was the POLICE that caused it to be needlessly drawn out for 6 hrs! You think in was so hard for you..try being the family and friends waiting helplessly knowing he wouldnt survive that amout time while they were trying to locate a shield to go in with and then said they couldn't get one. Then 5 more hours waiting for them to go in! This man was never a threat to anyone. He was helpless in his home. He never threatened anyone or gave any indication he would harm anyone ever. The POLICE mishandled it.

kcs261 March 23, 2011 at 12:52 am

First of all, the use of the term "inconvenienced" is really a swipe. Try terrified out for speed? We were told to stay away from our windows for 6-hours with no explanation. We had police all up and down our street and then the SWAT team. Police cars were parked in front of a house with police lined up with rifles behind it. We had the SWAT team swarming out of an armored vehicle like we were living in Tripoli. At no time, was anybody given any explanation. None of us knew what apparently you knew. We knew nothing, zero, nadda. I do agree that if the police had given an explanation, then there wouldn't be the need for this story. But that didn't happen, so I appreciate this story. Otherwise, we'd still have no idea if we were safe now. I don't see how this article gave any private details, either. All it said was that there "no good ending". I will also say this: When a street is blocked off for 6-hours, with the SWAT team, and police with rifles lined up behind cars, the situation went from private to a public affair for the whole street and area. I do want to express my condolences to the family. I'm sure this is a tough time and our prayers our with you. But you have to understand we were worried about OUR families as well in a similar vein. Some of us have kids. We need to know some basic details to know that our families are safe.

Joseph Mansker March 24, 2011 at 07:48 pm

Sorry the police had to inconvenience you for six hours while they tried to save a life. This mans son was definitely inconvenienced while sitting on the sidewalk waiting to hear what happened to his father. I would think you could feel a little bit safe with every cop in town camped out on your lawn and swat teams set up to protect your family and your property. Kuddos to the Brentwood police for doing what they could to try and avoid tragedy, unfortunately the PR person wasnt able to satisfy the nosy neighbors requests to be filled in on all possible details while involved in the heat of the moment. RIP to my friend whose life ended that night and prayers to his family. Most people around town dont know that this man was a victim of a very unfortunate accident years ago that changed the course of his history to come. Go buy a National Enquirer if you cant live without the dirt of every situation, these people have a job to do and keeping selfish, heartless neighbors informed minute by minute is obviously not part of it.

Nicole March 25, 2011 at 01:57 am

The man was a good friend of my father's. He was a good guy and will be missed!

kcs261 March 25, 2011 at 03:44 am

So, for 6 hours families had to be huddled in their houses away from the windows (almost the equivalent of an entire work day) and we were entitled to no absolutely nothing? There could have been a hostage situation in our neighborhood. There could have been an armed gunman on the loose. Somebody could have been in the process of setting off a bomb. We are all just supposed to assume and know that this was a suicide. We are psychics after all.
It's such a ridiculous position to take that we are entitled to know nothing. Just flat-out ridiculous. I am sorry for your loss. But taking your loss out on other people is not a testament to the life of this person.

Joseph Mansker March 25, 2011 at 08:47 pm

Hopefully you never have to suffer such a tragedy kcs261, and if you do I hope the details dont have to be exploited for the general information purposes of others. If there had been a bomb or hostage situation Im sure the authorities would have given more information to you or evacuated the neighborhood. These people are professionals, and gave the information they thought was necessary. Flat out ridiculous is jumping to conclusions and ignoring the fact that a father, friend, and good man lost his life and all you can think of is being inconvenienced for "almost a whole day of works" worth of time. That is a sad position to take, most of the "human" race would probably say, flat out ridiculous. Prayers to a good mans young son and family.

Concernedcitizen9 March 26, 2011 at 05:25 am

We can say all we can, but some people can not see beyond themselves. Yes, you, kcs261, give it a rest and just get over it. You are the only one on here that surfaces as shallow and distasteful. My continued prayers go out to all his family and friends. A great man who will be so missed.