On the'Police Beat'

I guess this started when the Wildcat's photo editor and

I took to the streets with an University of Arizona Police Department officer in January. That night opened my eyes, as a love song once said, to the world of police work. A minute after we entered what was probably the worst patrol car in UAPD's fleet, w e were after our first traffic violator. As the carbon monoxide fumes floated into my nostrils, the car sped off, slamming my body hard against the seat. After the officer turned on the overhead lights and stopped the suspected vehicle, my heart started b eating again and I realized there were real people and real situations behind "Police Beat".

When I took over the job of writing "Police Beat", I pictured "Police Beat" as the assignment given to one of the Wildcat's better reporters who heads down to the university police headquarters and comes back with amazingly humorous material. However, I'v e changed my mind as I was approached by people about "how funny" "Police Beat" was or asked "why didn't you put my story in?" I have begun to realize that the material going into the 14-inch by 3-inch column is more than "funny," it is important to every one on the University of Arizona campus.

Everyday this semester, I wrote about the stolen bikes, drug arrests or whatever else came across in the university police records in that green folder on Lt. Brian Seastone's desk. And this semester, three people arrested or cited in "Police Beat" have g one on to be charged with crimes such as first-degree murder and armed bank robbery. However, everyday I still had to ask myself: "Am I writing an entertaining column or an informational column?"

"It used to be that 'Police Beat' used to be for silly things," UAPD Detective Sgt. Sal Celi told me. He said that this year, "Police Beat" has improved to be more responsible and "adult."

Seastone, UAPD's public information officer, said, "There have been some funny things over the years . You guys [this year's editors] have not taken the fun out of it completely, but you have made 'Police Beat' become more informative."

The Wildcat's adviser described "Police Beat" as being written "straight from the blotter" and as a "just the facts, Joe Friday kind of thing." Yes, "Police Beat" does have that tone, but I hope the readers can get information about crimes occurring on ca mpus and what they should watch out for - while taking it seriously.

Celi told me that he believed "Police Beat" to be a "double-sided sword." He said he likes the idea that "Police Beat" puts different types of events representing what happens on campus in front of the public. However, he said he is concerned about how it affects the victims and ongoing investigations.

Sexual assault victims in particular are singled out. In interviews this year, Celi, Veda Hunn, assistant dean of students, and Irene Anderson, program coordinator for the Oasis Center for sexual assault and relationship violence, all emphasized said they believed there are fewer sexual assaults reported because the victims fear their stories will end up in "Police Beat". Celi said often the first words out of a victim's mouth are: "I want to tell you what happened, but is it going to appear in 'Police Be at?'"

As a reporter and an editor, I would never want my work to influence the life of someone going through such a trauma. The Wildcat's policy for writing such stories is not to report the victim's name, unless they agree to be interviewed by the Wildcat abou t the incident. A journalist's job is to report what happens on campus, but it is unfortunate that people are afraid to report what happens to them. Celi said he wished there was a way to keep information public, but not hurt anybody as well. I wish for t he same thing, but I also wish the public understood that most reporters are not there to sensationalize their stories. Instead, their job is to report the story so the community will know about such incidents, and, hopefully, everyone can learn from the m.

That is what is most important about "Police Beat". Yes, you can still laugh at the entries, but "Police Beat" is much more than humor. It is meant to be a public service to let you, the reader, and others around you know what is going on in your communit y. That is the job of the newspaper - that's the purpose of "Police Beat".

Keith J. Allen is a graduating journalism senior and 1996-'97 assistant news editor.