|
| From
the Field |
|
|
 Hello...we're
over here!
By Renee Groese
As a former reporter, I'm well aware of the catch phrase, "If
it bleeds it leads." Now that I have left the world of reporting
and am on the opposite side of the fence; where my goal is to
get reporters to report on public relations information about
the Redlands Police Department, I would like to rephrase it
to "If it suceeds it leads."
I believe this, because in my five years of experience as a
Public Information Officer of the Redlands Police Department,
I can tell you that it is EXTREMELY difficult to get the Los
Angeles Media Market to notice us when we've done something
well. Actually, I do empathize with reporters and I can understand
why they don't bend over backwards to come out to Redlands.
That's Redlands. Not Redding. Redlands.
Redlands is a quaint, bedroom community rich in culture and
aesthetic beauty. Many people refer to it as Mayberry. Compared
to our surrounding cities, we have a low crime rate. In the
few times that I have had the Los Angeles based reporters out
to Redlands, they were here for crimes that offer a bizarre
twist, or absolutely morbid circumstances. Here are some examples.
In 1996, a man was arrested for stalking a woman for months
on end. Not only did he stalk her, he stole her underwear off
the clothesline. Literally. He was nick-named "the Panty Bandit"
and yes, he was caught in the act.
In 1998, a most horrific homicide bewildered this town when
it was learned a 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death by a 15-year-old
classmate. The boy's body was then placed in a sewer near the
suspect's home. Months later, the boys' bones surfaced in the
sewer lines.
And last year, a restaurant heir was shot to death as he sat
outside his apartment with his female companion. He was shot
by people who had mistaken him for someone else.
These were more than just random killings and they offered the
type of story the Los Angeles market looks for - bizarreness,
intrigue, tragedy - the types of crimes that have the ability
to become true crime novels. But enough about the crime.
Morbid or bizarre, we at Redlands Police have more to offer
than that. We are a unique police department. The recreation,
housing and senior services are all housed under the Redlands
Police Department umbrella. That gives the Department plenty
to talk about and a multitude of programs to offer people of
all ages.
Come on, Los Angeles, take a drive to the east and check us
out. You'll be glad you did. And, you won't go home bleeding!
About the Author
Renee Groese is a Public Information Officer for the Redlands
Police Department. |
|
|
|
| |
|
