July 13th, 2009 
joel The results of our three-week poll of over-the-air digital television viewers were shocking to me.
The basics of communication theory indicate that a message can only be sent from sender to receiver if the medium/carrier can make the trip. In our non-scientific poll, 38% of DTV viewers said they couldn’t receive the station that transmits the number one broadcast network, CBS. In fact 1 of 4 respondents said they were having trouble watching any commercial broadcast television out of Erie.
That’s a huge problem (and great opportunity for satellite vendors) that station engineers don’t have a whole lot of answers for. In fact, my request for comment and advice for viewers from one station has gone unanswered for a week. DTV viewers…you really have to look at getting a big exterior antenna, and if you’ve already done that, maybe the days of free television are over for you.
Erie Bureau of Police Chief Steve Franklin is once again in the news over his nondisclosure of a series of late-night attacks on women in a lower west-side neighborhood. It wasn’t until Erie Times-News reporters hammered him with questions did he admit to the investigation, while letting his disdain for the local media slip through the process.
Generally the police have a love/hate relationship with the media; playing them when they run out of leads, while being tight-lipped when they deem necessary. But Franklin’s claim that public disclosure would create panic, tons of false leads while tipping off the perps is not enough for those now calling him to step down.
Do you think Franklin’s actions are the last straw?
Should Erie Police Chief Steve Franklin lose his job over his use/nonuse of the media?
- Yes: he is putting people in danger by not fully disclosing crimes in the city (57%, 24 Votes)
- No: he may have a "tin ear" for the media, but he's still a good chief (36%, 15 Votes)
- I don't know/I'm ambivalent (7%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 42
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This is a man that is totally out of touch. First it was his actions in the immediate aftermath of the Cousins video (“take it down”…not realizing that once something is on You Tube, you can’t just “take it down” and have it go away). And now this. He says he doesn’t want to be bothered with “100 calls about paperboys”…well one of those “100 calls” may have a valuable tip that would help police. It also sounds like our Chief doesn’t have much faith in neighborhood watch groups either.
I think that the EPD needs some sort of “Communications liason”…a Boo Hagerty type of person that is expert at puttuing out just enough information to inform the public w/out tipping off the crooks to what the police are doing to catch them.
Bottom line…the public NEEDS to know and the EPD chief needs to be more forthcoming…none of this “go away citizen, there’s nothing to see here” attitude.
There is a bigger problem than just the Chief’s lack of sensitivity and judgement when it comes to dealing with the general public: The Chief of Police has the full faith and backing of Mayor Joe Sinnott.
I remember one of Chief Franklin’s first actions upon becoming Chief: the switch to “Black-and White” Police cruisers. I also remember a proud Chief Franklin and Mayor Sinnott crowing to the newspaper about how “these new cruisers with the black and white scheme will be a crime deterrent.” Huh?
Let’s see, the Chief also said that Erie “doesn’t need more Officers on the street.” And that “we have enough personnel to answer calls for service.”
Don’t forget Mayor Sinnott taking several months to announce a panel to look into EPD internal investigations after the Cousins’ incident.
And now you have the Chief of Police basically telling the public (paraphrasing here) “we don’t want your help because it will just be a nuisance and we don’t want to be bugged.” I thought the Police have said over and over “we can’t do it without the help of the public?” Is this a major change in EPD policy? Do the Police now have a policy of “Us vs. them” (general public)?
Whether or not Chief Franklin cares, the public will ALWAYS be the eyes and ears of the Police Department. The public will ALWAYS be the ones who dial 911 and provide information to the investigating officers. The vast majority of EPD personnel (about 85%) are very dedicated, hard-working and conscientious individuals. It is a shame the other 15% that don’t seem to give-a-damn belong to the command staff of the Erie Police Department.
Chief Franklin, I have respect for you because of the title you have. Unfortunately, you DO have a severe manpower shortage (how else do you explain some nights not even being able to field 10 officers for patrol?), you do have a problem on the lower East side, you do have a problem on the lower west side (which, if you had your way, would still remain silent from the public) and you have a developing problem in Glenwood Hills – which you explained to a neighborhood watch meeting last night at St. Luke’s as saying “there is no problem in Glenwood…we have enough manpower…(paraphrasing for emphasis) nothing to see here, don’t bug me!”
It will never happen but the time has arrived for the Chief to retire and let someone who takes crime fighting seriously to become top cop.
(This is what happens when a Police Department switches from Proactive to Reactive because of manpower)
Ignoring what passes for media in this town should qualify him for a raise. There is nothing to enhance a person’s career by talking to anyone in the Erie media. Those 20/20 hindsight know it alls will pander to any group wanting to take on a public employee.
I wonder what would have become of this story if Carol Pella were still doing Investigative Reporting at WSEE-TV?
Could you just see her file off one story after another? Carol was extremely good at her job. It was a sad day when she decided to retire and call it a career.
Franklin was a good cop when he worked the streets and was only a supervisor, but I don’t think he’s chief material. That is what is basically wrong with both the Erie PD and Erie FD…they continually promote from within and there are no new ideas. They continue to promote their problems. Erie needs some new management, starting with the mayor. Erie voters keep electing clowns, so the the circus at 7th & State continues to run.
Tim,
Carol retired because of her health. Her Lupus was taking a toll on her. The final straw was when she broke her leg at work and could no longer navigate the stairs at 12th & Peach. I talked to her a year or so ago, we grew up in the same neighborhood and went to school together (albeit a few years apart). She lives at home and was doing OK…but she does miss the business and her friends.
Lou Tullio said it best after one of his many election victories, “You can’t win unless you have the backing of city hall.”.
What he meant was the support of Police, Fire, and AMFSCME. Joe Sinnott won because of the support of EPD. (not that the talent pool of candidates was anything impressive, in fact, like most Erie elections it ends up being the lesser of several evils).
PR is correct. This city will continue to wallow in mediocrity until an entrepreneur comes to town, someone with a vision and a plan to make Erie great. But that won’t happen until the current “Circus” leaves town. I’m selling T shirts that read…”No One Over 50 Should Hold Office in Erie! (for the record, I will be 50 later this year!)
I was at the meeting about Glenwood and was amazed at the Chief’s pitch. He repeatedly said the amount crime was not a issue, no pattern of crime, the numbers do not indicate a reason to be concerned, insignificant amount of crime in that area.
First of all , as any of us who have been a victim of a crime not matter how serious, it is never insignificant.
The chief came up there is reassure the neighbors and all he did was tell them not to worry all is fine. He harped on the number of burglaries in the area as very small yet at least one person there asked if his home was on the list and it was not. How many more were not listed.
He is a pr nightmare. I am sure he is great cop, maybe a great administatror but he should not be anywhere near a camera or speaking to a group of concerned residents.