Reader wonders why police action goes unreported

I eagerly awaited the arrival of my copy of The Acorn yesterday to read the story about the police action in Old Agoura on Thurs., April 18. Since The Acorn did not carry a story, I feel compelled to write what I know about what happened and ask about the lack of coverage.

My husband and I awoke that day to sounds of sirens. He left early for work and called me a few minutes later to say he saw what looked like a car wreck on Driver. Soon after, I heard a bullhorn calling through our neighborhood: "Surrender to the nearest officer. The dogs will find you and they will bite you. Give yourself up."

I went down my driveway to the street to fetch the paper, and I saw up and down the street pairs of sheriff’s deputies on motorcycles. A pair was stationed at the corner of Fairview and Foothill, and a pair was cruising the street rather slowly.

The police action seemed to progress with the morning hours. By the time I took my older daughter to elementary school, there was a sheriff’s helicopter flying low over Old Agoura and the hills directly to the north.

Sumac was apparently under a partial lockdown, and rumors were flying. Some said it was a home invasion robbery; some said a carjacking. The helicopter flew until about 10 a.m.

I took my younger daughter to the doctor at about 10:30 for a minor illness. The doctor sent us to Agoura Deli for chicken soup. When we arrived at the deli, we saw several deputies there, enjoying a respite from the front lines, as it were. I thanked a pair for all their hard work and asked what happened. I was told it was a burglary and they were searching for one of the two suspects. They apparently caught one of them at the scene, and, while the other was still at large, they were confident they would catch him because they had his car and his accomplice. From that point on I looked forward to reading more details.

The L. A. Times carried nothing, which was no surprise to me really, because I presume manhunts are much more routine in other parts of our beleaguered metropolitan area. I’d still like to know more about what happened.

It is not mere gruesome curiosity on my part. I think it is necessary for all of us to understand how hard our sheriff’s department works to protect our community. I also think it is exceedingly important to know the policies and procedures our sheriff follows in fighting crime in our region.

I am curious to know, for example, if in this instance all policies and procedures were followed and, if so, whether the policies and procedures need amendment.

A 10-hour manhunt using K-9 units, helicopters and an army of deputies culminating in no arrest is news in Agoura. This police action cost all of us I don’t know how many tax dollars, and I think we have a right to know—indeed, a civic obligation to know—what happened, from alleged burglary to the helicopter running out of gas.

The Acorn is usually right on top of local news, and so I must believe that you were not aware of the situation, or, perhaps more cynically, the sheriff decided to downplay the events because there was no "happy ending." In my mind, an extended and legitimate police action—whether or not it ends in an arrest—carries no shame, and is newsworthy.

Sharon Robinson

Agoura Hills

Not all law enforcement activities are reported to the media or released in incident reports which are summarized in our Sheriff’s Blotter. Authorities don’t reveal, for example, information that might compromise their investigation. There may be other factors. For whatever reason, drunk driving arrests are no longer released by Lost Hills Station.

Newspapers need readers to call about police activities. Robinson’s letter was the only reason we could follow-up with the story found on page 1.