Grand Island City Hall, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND — A recent policy change undertaken by the City of Grand Island has resulted in less crime information being shared with media outlets and the public at large.
Since last week, the Grand Island Police Department is not releasing the names of those who have been arrested on a felony offense.
Prior, a felony crime report had been shared each weekday morning with the names of those who had been arrested on a felony charge and a brief description of each incident. Now, the suspect is only referred to by their age and gender, without including names.
The city said the move is a “procedural change regarding the daily felony report dissemination.”
Finding information on a potential criminal case can be challenging without a name, information is posted to the Nebraska Judicial Branch website, but without information such as the name of the accused, the cases are difficult to locate.
Other area media outlets are concerned about the change.
“If a reporter has a question about the incident report and calls the county clerk or tries to get the report from the police records division, we’d have to say ‘fourth item from the top’ on Wednesday’s daily felony report because we have don’t have a name or even a case number to reference,” Grand Island Independent editor Victoria Ayotte said in an article written by Jeff Bahr.
The Independent also reported that calls should no longer be made to the Grand Island Police Department but are supposed to contact Spencer Schubert, the city’s communications manager.
Often, reporters seek to speak with law enforcement for timely information regarding incidents or arrests that are of public interest.
For those interested or concerned about the recent change, the phone number for City Hall is 308-385-5444. Schubert is extension 1148. Mayor Roger Steele’s is extension 1109. City Attorney Kari Fisk’s phone number is 308-385-5420.
