Chief Gary Jenkins is in his second year as the head of the Pullman Police Department. After a move from Clairmont, Calif., Jenkins has found a new home among Pullmanites and WSU students.
Despite a change of scenery, not much has changed in the way Jenkins interacts with the local media.
“The bottom line is it’s a relationship,” he said. “The better the communication is, the more information can be exchanged.”
During a question and answer session with a WSU Jounalism class Wednesday, Jenkins encouraged students to get to know officials in their local police departments.
“If there’s not any trust built up, the officer is not going to give out the information you need,” he said.
Jenkins told students that a journalist-law enforcement must go both ways, and that mutual respect is required for each party to thrive.
Journalists should also give advanced notice to police before an interview, so law enforcement officials will be better prepared to answer reporters’ questions, Jenkins added.
Having accurate information, especially in print media, is very important, he said.
“Personally it doesn’t matter if I’m quoted exactly,” Jenkins said. “The important thing is that the reporter captures the essence of what I’m saying.”
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