What you're saying: Mobile police keep a tight wrap on crime information

MichealTWilliams.JPGView full sizeMobile Police Chief Micheal T. Williams

The Mobile Police Department’s policies restrict both public access to information and the media’s ability to report on crime in the city.

Each morning, a list of reported crimes is sent to news agencies. The list, however, contains virtually no information beyond the block number and street where the crime occurred, and the applicable charge — robbery, theft of property, burglary and so forth.

No details or circumstances of the crime are given. The robbery of a drug dealer by a drug addict in an abandoned house, for example, would be indistinguishable from the robbery of a grandmother in a grocery store parking lot.

Without an exact address or the name of the victim, it’s nearly impossible to independently determine the seriousness of a crime, particularly with dozens of reported crimes coming in each day.

Police Chief Micheal T. Williams agreed Friday afternoon to an interview about the department’s record on releasing information, on the condition that he select the reporter. 

“We are a department who wants to disseminate information to the public, especially when there is a public need to know and a public danger,” said Williams, who was named chief early this year by Mayor Sam Jones. 

Here's what you're saying about the story.

"It makes you wonder if Kyser Miree might still be alive if he had been made aware that the place he chose to live was a hot bed of crime. Mobile Police say you have no right to know if you are in a high crime area. This is just another example of the arrogance and attitude of entitlement held by the Sam Jones administration, "We decide what you need to know." -- jiminmobile

"When you restrict information your goal is to hide the facts and cover your butt for your mistakes. This city's leaders have much to hide and much to be ashamed of, hence the cover up and the giving out of information which leads nowhere. A half truth is a whole lie. Mayor Sam Jones and his ilk are quickly overseeing the destruction of the city of Mobile." -- ezekiel77

"If taxpayer money is being used to install/maintain cameras and generate crime statistics, the police have an obligation to release that to the press. What possible legitimate reason could there be for not releasing the heat maps?" -- SonOfHomer

"Looks like MPD is doing a good job apprehending criminals and solving cases but a poor job on crime prevention. Maybe if the courts would lock more criminals up for longer times." -- honkytonker

"Oh it's easy to understand why the crime isn't being reported and is actually being hidden from the media and the citizens - if you don't know about it, then you think everything is fine. And if you think everything is fine, then you have a feeling of security and you think that the leadership of the city is doing a good job. If people really knew what was going on around here, we'd all be carrying guns to protect ourselves. And, we'd vote these goons out of office." -- SoYouWillKnow