Chief on Cameron Vennard: 'Primary Obligation Is to Family of Deceased'
Kirkwood Police Chief Jack Plummer explains the department's decision about when to release the name of Cameron Vennard after concerns from the media.
Kirkwood Police Chief Jack Plummer sent the following letter to media outlets after the death of Cameron Vennard on May 30. The letter explains why the Kirkwood Police Department decided not to release Vennard's name the afternoon of his tragic passing.
The 14 year old teenager who was struck and killed by an Amtrak train while walking on the railroad tracks yesterday afternoon has been identified as Cameron Herrin Vennard. He resided with family in Oakland Missouri.
I have received a couple of inquiries from the media who felt that we should have released the young man’s name yesterday afternoon. I understand and respect the desire of the media to report information as soon as possible.
However, the police department’s primary obligation is first and foremost to the family of the deceased. We will continue to cooperate with the media but only after we have met our primary obligation to the family.
--Chief Jack Plummer
More about Cameron Vennard:
Pat Maloney (Wilken)
7:37 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
Right on Police Chief Plummer!! The media doesn't need to know right away, the names of people. I have a friend who recently lost her husband in a car accident....just a month ago...where his car was hit and sent across the highway, and it overturned. She heard that he had died, on her way to the hospital on the car radio. Now that is just tragic !! I, also as a young girl, heard on the radio (No TV, to talk about, in those days) that one of my playmates on the street had died in a car crash with friends, on vacation. I went outside, and saw another neighbor running over to their house. I learned later, that that neighbor had informed Sandy's parents. No one had called them, before they put it on the radio.
So Police Chief Plummer did the right thing....Thank you Chief Plummer.
Kirkwood Des Peres Area Chamber of Commerce
9:13 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
You did the right thing Chief!