Better flow of info about crime a must

The biggest armed robbery to hit downtown Freehold Borough in years took place on the afternoon of Aug. 26 and resulted in a virtual news blackout from law enforcement authorities for almost a week.

When the News Transcript learned that Ballew Jewelers on West Main Street had been robbed, a reporter began calling Freehold Borough police officials to seek information about the crime. That was on Aug. 27. No one was available to speak about the crime.

The newspaper continued its attempt to speak with police on Aug. 29 — our deadline day for the Aug. 31 issue — and was eventually instructed by a Free-hold Borough dispatcher to call the Monmouth County Prose-cutor’s Office, which did not return telephone calls that afternoon.

On Aug. 31, Prosecutor Luis Valentin finally issued a press release stating that he would hold a press conference on Sept. 1 to discuss what he said was a million dollar theft from Ballew Jewelers.

The press release stated that Valentin would ask the public for its help in solving the crime.

A press release at any time between Aug. 26 and Aug. 29 that simply reported the theft would have been much more of a public service than an Aug. 31 press release announcing a press conference.

This is unacceptable behavior on the part of law enforcement authorities, specifically the prosecutor’s office. This is not a good way for Valentin to begin his tenure in the county.

In fact, Valentin had been slow to respond to several requests for information that Greater Media Newspapers, which publishes the News Tran-script, made on a number of issues over the past few weeks.

If municipal police departments are being instructed by the prosecutor not to speak to the press about major crimes, then Valentin must take personal responsibility for speaking with the media. If he does not want that responsibility, he should designate a staff member who will field those calls and make basic information about major crimes available quickly, or let local police provide the information to the public.