As a member of the press I am used to a certain level of communication. When dealing with a police department the ‘Point Man’ is usually the PIO ‘Public Information Officer’. This is the person that the press are pointed at, he is the spokesman, he is the link between the press and and the boots on the ground.
I can call the PIO’s in the Haleigh Cummings or Caylee Anthony cases, in the unfortunate circumstance that they are unavailable, they return my call within the hour. St Tammany Parish seems to have a different philosophy, neither the detective on the Zachary Pittman case, nor the PIO seem to think that Blogger News Network warrant a call back.
While there are many reasons why these two people could not call back, few excuses hold any water whatsoever. If they were on vacation, someone else would be checking the calls.
Message to ‘St Tammany Parish’ you can not avoid me forever!
The most telling aspect in this ‘avoid talking to Simon’ adventure is that the lead detective has been told that I would like to talk to him by a family member.
It is high time that the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office pick up the damn phone and call me! Note I have opted to leave the individuals names out at this stage.
The press is not a big bad monster, it is a way that information can make its way to the man in the street, and there is one man or woman, maybe more, that can help resolve the case surrounding the disappearance of Zachary Pittman.
It has been exactly one year since Zach was last seen. What actually has been done on those 365 days to find him? Is this a case where the 10 full time investigators originally involved has dwindled to down to one? And the only investigation involves a 30 second chat around the coffee pot once a week?
I know that I sound bitter, but I am merely telling it the way I see it. They way I read it, the folks involved in this case would much prefer to stick it in the ‘cold case’ file cabinet and move on.
I do not expect any investigator to share confidential information. Cases have been compromised by such actions. But I do expect the common courtesy of a call back.
The absolute lack of co-operation has got my hackles up, you can bet that I am not dropping this story.
Simon Barrett
Loading ...
27 users commented in " Zachary Pittman – The Press Waits, And Waits, And Waits! "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackWell, I was wondering how long that would take.
Now Simon’s pissed. I have a feeling someone is going to be doing a lot of back peddling when it comes time to account for avoiding him.
Brokenrod – You can love me (few do), you can hate me, but I will not be ignored. There will be another set of phone calls tomorrow. And win or lose, there will be an article.
If I don’t get some answers, I am heading up the food chain!
Someone is going to talk to me!
I bet if they logged on to BNN and read how there actions are being called out, Simon will get a quick return call.
Google Zachs name and the top 3 results are BNN articles…
What is the police department hiding that they can’t give a courtesy call back to someone reporting on the story? The public is your best source of information and LE needs to realize that. Simon I hope that you take this case as far as you can. This family deserves some peace.
Thank you Simon for not letting go of this bone! This has been a very rough, emotional day for our entire family. But it is heart warming to see the many who are responding/blogging about your articles. Friends on FB are forwarding this all on….maybe soon our prayers will be answered…that person will come forward and blow this case wide open.
Great article and I hope you get what you are looking for Simon!
Simon, Thanks for keeping us updated on the lack of cooperation LE is extending to the family. The least they can do is a weekly update to family or their spokesperson! It’s wonderfulto have you & Jan out there advocating and not giving up because a door wasn’t answered or one slammed in your face. Keep up the good work both of you are doing in the many cases covered. Getting the information out and giving all of us a chance to speak through your forom.
Sheriff Jack Strain is supposed to be the Big Man over there. It’s his responsibility to see that his deputies and detectives are doing their jobs. I say give him a call. If that doesn’t work, call Kevin Davis, the president of St. Tammany Parish.
http://www.stpgov.org/leadership_president.php
Like I said before, I’ve been waiting 43 years for STPSO to solve a double murder case. Obviously, these folks are a bit slow in their procedures (she says sarcastically). Too bad they don’t have Jefferson Parish’s late Sheriff Harry Lee to show them how it’s supposed to be done. The Chinese Cajun Cowboy used to really crack the whip.
Simon Barrett said,in June 24th, 2010 at 7:23 pm Brokenrod – You can love me (few do), you can hate me, but I will not be ignored. There will be another set of phone calls tomorrow. And win or lose, there will be an article.
If I don’t get some answers, I am heading up the food chain!
Someone is going to talk to me!
________________________________
From what I’ve read here so far, this smacks of a scenario in which the higher-ups figure Zachary is just some urchin who’s made mis-steps in his life and won’t be missed. Obviously, they’ve miscalculated. Way to care, Simon! About Pittman *and* his family. Best of luck.
Simon and Jan,, I am so proud that I am a faithful reader and a listener to your radio programs. You just don’t ever disappointment me. I know when you say something you really mean it. You both have passion for what you do. Thanks so much for the hard work.
Stick to your guns! Be a nuisance and get the info you seek. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Most folks would just drop it or sit and wait without hearing but I am happy to know that you are on the job and will not let up until you get that call. The persons you are calling are evidently embarrassed that they have done nothing and are scared to be called on the carpet for that lack of work. Go for it, give them hell, Simon!
Simon & Jan; Maybe you should stop wasting your time with the local pd and contact the parrish president or LE at the state level. You might start bringing attention to Zach if nothing else, someone just might start showing Zach’s family the respect that they deserve.
Heaven forbid, the parrish start getting negative attention on the national level considering the reputation of the good ole boy network down there.
Look out if Nancy Grace makes this case one of her “bombshell” cases!
Good Luck with you endeavors.
In one way I can understand a reluctance to speak with the “press.” I’m sure they’ve seen, for example, how other LE spokespeople’s comments have been deliberately mis-represented by “emmy award winning (so-called) journalists” and spread around on national TV garbage-in/garbage-out TV shows and turned into fodder for radio gossip shows run by 12 year olds torn between identifying with the Three Stooges or Hedda Hopper.
I know LE is obliged to respond so Simon when you do talk with someone there please show them how a PROFESSIONAL really works – honestly and above-board. I know you will.
Maybe I should clarify my last comment. Show them how an ETHICAL professional really works!
Doesn’t LE realize that by getting the word out it could help them solve the case? People in the area where Zachary went missing aren’t even aware of the case! Don’t they WANT to find him and resolve this? What are they hiding? You’d think they’d welcome any help they could get.
So is this the person you are trying to contact? Detective Corey Crowe at 985-726-7836. This is the person listed at their website as the contact for Zachary. The sheriff is Sheriff Jack Strain, Jr. Perhaps we should start calling and writing these people. They surely have email addresses as well.
This is utterly ridiculous and it needs to be resolved NOW!
Hopefully I will have some news later this morning, I have moved up the food chain. I am waiting for some calls back.
Nice work JB on that info!
Simon – let us know if you want us to start calling, email and writing!
You and Jan know first hand how annoying we can be! LOL
Why on these blogs do all southern law enforcement offices become accused hiding something or wrong doing?
Msdixierose … Maybe it is because they are! I am from the south, I am now presently living in the south and what makes matters even worse is I was raised in St. Tammany Parish and I am NOT proud of how LE is handling this case. I would like to think they are better at doing their jobs. When I was a kid living in Slidell they were better than they are now.
Jan Barrett
I do not like feeling as if I am being overly nosey but I’m going to do it.
What is the exact nature of the argument between Zach and his Sister?
Also, isn’t the area known for shrimp boating type of stuff or?
I am also from the south, born and raised in south MS and I am proud to be from the south, and to be honest I am beginning to take offense. There are good and bad people everywhere, the same with sheriff offices and police departments. You have another poster on a related post stating he had family and he “heard of us feeding black people to the alligators”. Those types of post are not necessary.
My primary interest in your site was the phone conversations from Misty from jail, however I started reading your wonderful articles on Haleigh and have stayed in the background. I have not posted before just reading, but I have seen this family called rednecks, inbred, hillbillies and white trash. I am offended by those remarks the same way as a black or hispanic person would be offended by other remarks.
I personally think that people can be allowed to express their views without remarks that are hurtful and basically making fun of hard working, family loving southern folks!
Just a thought but here where I live it is pathetically common for illegals to assume identities of others. (My own SS# was stolen and used to obtain cell phones and service at one point.)
I have also seen where a male had given false information when he obtained employment because he was avoiding court ordered child support payments.
I’m not making any accusations here. I am just bringing up a potential possibility?
Also if I seemed accusatory to any member with my post it was not done intentionally, just a little frustrated.
msdixierose- your probably not as frustrated as Zachs family.
shayshay…no, I am probably not that frustrated.
New Facebook page for Missing Zachary Pittman.
Please join us and help find Zach.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001240977250
Leave A Reply