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Students Visit Amherst Police Department

by Mark Daly

            On Monday afternoon, journalism students from the University of Massachusetts were in the Amherst Police Headquarters, where they participated in a question and answer session with Detective Jamie Reardon of the Amherst Police Department.

            As part of an interview set up by UMass Journalism Professor Mary Carey, 14 students from the Journalism 300 course were given the chance to ask questions on a variety of subjects, ranging from what constitutes probable cause to the relationship that the Amherst Police Department has with various media outlets, and what information can be released to the public.

            Some of the topics discussed included the impact of social media on the enforcement of law, including how it has created a need for updated laws, and how social media and technology has become an important asset to solving crimes.           

            Referring to the "Blarney Blowout," a large St. Patrick's Day themed party that occured at the Amherst Townhouses on Saturday afternoon, Reardon said that technology plays an important role in solving crimes. He said, “All we have to do is go on YouTube and we can see what was happening and who was there.” Reardon said the use of technology allows police to confirm the things they do see when they are at a scene, as well as the things they don’t see, and he said it’s beneficial because nearly everyone has a smart phone and can upload pictures and videos, so there are many different accounts of what happened.

            One of the biggest topics that Journalism students were interested in was the types of information that can be published for others to see. Reardon said that in most circumstances, unless they are dealing with a minor, every arrest becomes public information. He also said, “Unless we (the police) physically put the handcuffs on you, your name isn’t published.” Reardon added that some information is withheld from journalists and the public because an investigation might be ongoing, and added that victim’s names are not reported for fear they could be retaliated against.

            Additionally, he stated that the Amherst Police Department has implemented over 80 policies that involve police protocol. Included in that is how to handle certain situations and what information will and will not be reported.

            Reardon reiterated that every action they take has to be for a reason, saying “There has to be a law for everything we do.” He says that is all involved in being a police officer and the rights citizens have, which are decided by the Constitution.

            Using students to act out different scenarios, Detective Reardon was able to keep students on the edge of their seats while he answered their questions, ones that were both prepared ahead of time as well as ones that were thought of by students over the course of the hour and 15 minute session. For Journalism student Shannon Sullivan, the question and answer session was a positive experience. She said, “I thought it was really interesting and I didn’t know a lot of the things the police could do, especially with the “Blarney Blowout” and how police can use (videos) and copy them (as evidence).

            Regardless of the topic, Detective Reardon helped students get a better understanding of how laws work after visiting the station, and it appeared to be a positive experience for all involved.