Warrenville police denies shooting kept quiet
After a public outcry over the lack of information about a weekend shooting, Warrenville police are promising to take extra measures to keep residents informed.
Shots were fired and police barricaded a central Warrenville neighborhood early Saturday morning, but until Tuesday, residents had little to no information about what happened -- and rumors flew.
In frustration, nearly 150 people packed a meeting at city hall Tuesday to hear Police Chief Ray Turano explain why residents didn't get answers through newspapers or calls to police.
"Why is there a lack of news coverage?" a man asked, echoing many others. "Why did we have to be brought here?"
Turano's answer: the department was busy handling the incident and ensuring public safety. There was a news release available for media and residents when he left the station at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, he said.
"My instructions were, 'If anyone calls, give the information out,'" Turano said. "This was no attempt not to provide information."
At least a dozen residents at the meeting told Turano they called the station Saturday, Sunday and Monday, only to be turned away.
Police did not share information about the incident with the Daily Herald until asked specifically about the shooting Monday.
The Daily Herald calls police in dozens of municipalities at least three times on Saturdays and twice on Sundays to ask officials if there have been any major crimes or accidents.
Reporters who made those calls to Warrenville this weekend were told nothing significant had happened.
Earlier Tuesday, Turano said he knew of no calls by the Daily Herald over the weekend.
"It had to be obvious to people that something was going on," Mayor Dave Brummel said. "I don't see how it would've helped in terms of safety to see it in the paper the next day."
The news release said Ignacio C. Rosario, 30, of Aurora is accused of shooting three people about 3 a.m. Saturday near a home in the Edgebrook neighborhood.
At the Tuesday meeting, Turano added Rosario was an invited guest and his actions weren't gang-related.
Police said they left a reverse 911 message with some residents indicating they were looking for a gun. But when asked, no one at Tuesday's meeting reported getting such a call.
Turano pledged that in the future he will take extra steps to make sure news gets out to residents.
"I think he did a great job. He resolved our concerns," Edgebrook Homeowners Association President Liz Pittman said. "That was why we felt as a board we had to have the meeting, so people wouldn't worry."
The shooting is only the latest DuPage County crime to escape immediate media attention. In Addison, it took two weeks for news to surface after a man's death Sept. 15, even though police said they prepared a news release.
Also, last spring, police in Villa Park didn't reveal they found the body of a missing woman until 48 hours later, in response to a Daily Herald story about the discovery.
"I don't think it's a trend," said state Sen. John Millner, a former Elmhurst police chief. "Different departments have different press policies for many different reasons."