Jan and I have been following this story for some time. It is easy to play the ‘Press Card’ that the police will not talk to us. It is even easier to ‘buy in’ for a couple of weeks and then move on to a new case. Unfortunately that is not who we are. Jan and I pick a story, a case, and we stick at it. Most police organizations are not used to this approach. There will be a couple of phone calls from the press, and then they move on.
Because the press can be a ‘real pain in the ass’ most organizations have a position created for a PIO, or in regular speak, a Public Information Officer. His mission in life is to be the buffer zone between the detectives on a case and the press dogging them!
The PIO is a guy that has a very hard mission. He has to balance information between the need for secrecy. I doubt that many people would argue that fact. To share a single fact with the press could indeed kill a case. The great PIO is the guy that can walk the tightrope. On occasions you get meat, on occasions you get salad, sometimes you only get Ketchup. But, you always get something. It is a rare situation when the PIO for even the biggest case does not call back within the hour.
The one thing I have figured out when dealing with the St Tammany folks is, calling them is a waste of time. It took something close to act of congress to get the PIO the first time! It took repeated calls to finally get “This is an active caseâ€.
This time it was a little quicker, my message was ‘call me, or else I am going live with a story’. It still took two days, I still got the run around!
Maybe I got more information than the mother of Zachary Pittman has achieved, but that makes me sad. When pushed to the wall, our favorite PIO admitted that detective Corey Crowe was no longer on the case. Of course this was not information that was forthcoming. It took a voice mail that explained my frustration, and my plan on launching a story, guess what? Suddenly I get a call back.
It is time that St Tammany realize that PIO does not stand for Police Interference Officer.
It took something akin to performing a ‘root canal’ but I did manage to drag out the information that the new lead detective is Detective Gottardi. Lets hope that he spends more time talking to the family than his predecessor did!
Simon Barrett
(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
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9 users commented in " Zachary Pittman Update – Or Is It Downdate? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackSimon good article and I appreciate it. I have talked to new the detective and so far I really like him, he is motivated and very interested in Zachs case, finally. Allthough I a can not say a lot on the case I will say I am confident that we are finally moving forward. Its been 60 weeks yesterday since Zach went missing. I am very disappointed in the news media, it seems like noone wants to run any segments on Zachary on the local tv stations, why? Thank God I have Simon and Jan to help get the info out there on Zachary, and all the wonderful people who have prayed and supported my family. Maybe soon we will have found my son, then I am sure all the media will want to know everything about Zachary. Thanks everyone and God Bless.
My heart goes out to you, cchristyra. We are here for you. And we certainly want to know everything about Zachary. Everything.
Thank you, Jan and Simon. I so, so appreciate this spot on earth that I can call home. Peace be with both of you.
Simon, and Jan, you are to commended for the time you’ve invested in Zachary’s story, and I know the family is appreciative of both of you..I will continue to pray for Zachary and his family..Christy, I am happy you are in touch with the new detective, and I so hope we will hear good news soon..I, too, am disappointed in the news media in not covering Zach.. Continue to be positive..I am not giving up either..
Simon,an Jan your good people for trying to help Christy.thanks so much for the update on everything.
Christy i pray this new investigator helps/Is way past time for anwsers about your son Zack.
Someone knows what took place/I pray God will not allow who ever was involved to rest untill the someone comes forward.
Theres anwsers in that town.An it seems like every which way you have been fought against getting them.
I have a friend missing Crystal Sholes never been seen again.No traces.
An a friend murdered,an when she was found,as few were questioned.An that was the end of it no arrest made.Both from small towns.Same sherriff for yrs.Seems sometimes like no one even cares but those who loved them.Just figured they were wayward young woman an didnt really matter.But they were somones child.
But anyone who goes missing deserved to be found,an the truth to come out.An small towns are sometimes the worst in finding out anything.People clam up,or are scared of someone in power.An i belive sweep what ever they find,sometimes under the rug,if it involves one of their own.
But i pray one day Christy you get the anwsers.I guess at this lenght oftime hes most likly is gone.You know him,an he wouldnt leave an not call.But onday i hope at least you will know.An be able to lay your son in his resting place.I truly feel for you..Im sure you have stayed awake many nights wondering hoping,an praying.Greiving for your son.an what could have been for him, an his child.Thank God you still have a part of him. His child your grandbaby.An can see him in her every day.
Great article, Simon! You tell it like it is! Right on!
Jan57 said,in August 19th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
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Hi, Jan57!
We have not chatted in a while. Hope you are doing well.
Jan57, your comments are beautiful. You are so compassionate and I can tell you spoke to Christy from the heart. I agree with you!
I know Christy will appreciate your comments and will appreciate you supporting her and understanding how it may be in a small town.
I live in a small town. I can not ever, ever imagine my county’s law enforcement handling an investigation the way Zach’s case has been handled.
It is unfortunate and sad that the media in Louisiana has not covered this case. If this was in Houston, Tx., our media would have put emphasis on Missing Person Zachary Pittman more than once.
It will probably be like Eric Preimesberger’s case. No one would cover Eric’s case or flash pictures of his children, Ivy and Damion, when Eric’s wife, Kristi, and the children went on the run with Kristi’s brother. Kay and her family begged media in Nevada and Oregon to cover the story. A few weeks ago, a TV station and a newspaper covered it briefly.
When the case broke a few days ago, the media is crawling out of the woodwork! They want interviews with Kay, Eric’s mom. I think she talked to the sources that covered Eric’s case when no one else would. I think she declined to talk to the other media. And. . . I don’t blame her. Where were they when she really needed media to get the story out there? Especially the pictures of her grandchildren!
cchristyra said,in August 19th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
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Hi, Christy!
Thank you for taking the time to come and comment!
Christy, I am so happy that you like the new detective and you feel he is interested in Zach’s case and he is motivated. I think this case needed “new blood” a long time ago! It is great that you feel this case is finally going to move forward.
It is heartbreaking to hear you say that it seems no one in the news media wants to cover Zachary’s case. Zack has been missing 60 weeks….over one year and no media wants to cover it. If this was in Houston, media would be all over this case!
Keep the faith and hope, Christy. Please have a good relationship with the new detective.
It still disturbs me that the previous detective would not return your calls when you had a possible lead for him. Later ~ ~ ~
Although this is the latest article on Eric Preimesberger’s case, I am going to post it here.
I think Christy will probably be able to relate to this.
Also, Eric’s wife, Kristi, was the last one to see Eric and initially told LE that Eric just walked out of the house and left, leaving his beloved Ruckus and possessions behind. As we all know, Kristi has been arrested.
Note in the article . . . it states that LE will try to solicit Kristi’s statements or info against her brother, Timothy. (Not Verbatim).
I feel that LE will perhaps offer Kristi a lesser charge in exchange for her eye witness account of Eric’s death. This would be info against her brother, Timothy. I think the Prosecutor’s will offer Kristi a deal if she turns state witness against her brother.
The above is just my opinion and it does not mean a thing!
http://www.rgj.com/article/20100820/NEWS/8200406/1321
The Reno Gazette Journal Reno, Nevada
8-20-10
“Victim’s mother says she knew something was off”
I am praying for you Christy. I hope the truth of your sons disappearance comes to light and he gets the Justice he deserves. God Bless you and your family.
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