Ashley Rowe on the funnel of communication to the public when police-involved incidents arise

The free press has one funnel of communication for all matters regarding the city and police investigations.

EYEWITNESS NEWS.BRINGING YOU BACKNOW TO THESITUATION HERE INBUFFALO.THERE ARE... SO MANYUNANSWEREDQUESTIONS... ABOUTHOW LAST NIGHT --AND OTHER NIGHTSTHIS WEEK --ESCALATED IN THECITY.

AND TO THEIRCREDIT -- MAYORBYRON BROWN ANDPOLICECOMMISSIONERBYRON LOCKWOODWERE QUICK TOREACT AND RESPOND.BUT HOW ARE THOSEMESSAGES BEINGCOORDINATED?

THESPOKESPERSON...FOR MAYOR BYRONBROWN... AND ALLCITY DEPARTMENTSFOR THAT MATTER... ISTHE SAMESPOKESPERSON FORTHE "BUFFALOPOLICE." THE FREEPRESS HAS ONEFUNNEL OFCOMMUNICATION FORALL MATTERS...REGARDING THECITY... AND POLICEINVESTIGATIONS.THIS VERY SETUPMAKES ITSYSTEMATICALLYIMPOSSIBLE FORTHERE TO BE A TRUESEPARATION BETWEENTHE MAYOR ANDPOLICE WHENSITUATIONS ARISE ANDCHECKS ANDBALANCES ARENEEDED.

MOST OTHERCITIES WE'VE LOOKEDINTO... HAVE THATSEPARATION.

BUT THECITY BELIEVES THEWAY IT IS SET UP ISFINE AND A MATTER OFFINANCIALEFFICIENCY.CLEVELAND HAS ALSOMOVED TOCONSOLIDATE ITSMESSAGING.

ASLIPPERY SLOPE --AND SOMETHIN