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Residents press council for better alerts after a neighborhood shooting; chief says sheriff's office controlled release
Summary
Resident Bill Burnham told council he learned about a July 8 shooting in his neighborhood a week later via the newspaper and urged the town to develop an alert process for violent incidents; Police Chief said the sheriff's office led the investigation and withheld information, and the town will notify residents when appropriate.
Bill Burnham, a resident speaking during public comment, said he discovered a shooting near Boundary and Spady Lane seven days after the incident and asked why residents were not alerted directly. "There was a shooting incident, on July, I believe, July 8, Boundary And Spady Lane," Burnham said, and asked the town and chief to consider an alert process for violent incidents so neighbors can make immediate safety decisions.
Police Chief addressed the council and said the incident was not an active-shooter event and that the sheriff's office classified and held the investigative information. The chief said town cameras aided the response but that the sheriff's office controlled public release of details, which delayed local notifications; he said the town will notify residents promptly if future circumstances warrant it. Councilors and staff said they would study options for clearer, timely communications and consider a public-information policy.
