My point was that the police do put out descriptions of offenders, media outlets don't pass them along to the public.

All perfectly valid questions to which I don't have the answer. Perhaps someone in the biz could speak to their motives.

Thought expiriment. The media dutifully reported that North Av Beach was closed Memorial Day 2011 due to "heat". The absurdity of that statement aside, police actually at the scene had a slightly different take on the closure.

Now who would have the motivation and the power to put something so ridiculous into the public domain? I would start by looking at City Hall.

So they seek out criminals, they publish sketchy facts about the perps in the hope that the public can help apprehend them and leave out some of the most important facts in identifying the perps. IN EVERY SINGLE CASE! So what are the "uncomfortable questions" you are referring to? What is it hey are trying to hide which makes it more difficult to bring these perps to justice? I still don't get it.

So the media has a vested interest in not bringing these criminals to justice by not fully describing the perps? Why would they do that? Are they not respectable citizens? And again, what are the "uncomfortable questions" that might be generated by releasing enough information to apprehend the perps? I still don't get it.

"They often simply state "white male, 25-35 years old", "Hispanic male, middle aged" or something similarly vague." But you dont even post that. Stop protecting them.

So, you're telling us that not one of these victims gave the police a skin color description. Some of them were pimply-faced. Some of the others were bearded. In one case, there were three of them. But not one mention of white, black, Hispanic, Asian? None? Week after week? That strains credibility.

In case you missed these descriptions in the above reports and their related stories:

— "when the trio, believed to be between 25 and 28 years old"
— "a group of about 10 men between the ages of 18 and 21 years old"
— "Victim was unable to give much description of the offenders besides them having pimply faces."
— "The second suspect was described as a 20- to 25 year-old black man, according to police."

I accept the fact that not all victims are able to accurately identify their attackers. But in each and every instance above there was no mention of ethnicity which can help greatly diminish the pool of people we are looking for in finding these criminals. In one case the perp was described as pimply faced and in another there were 10 perps all described as between 18-21 years old. If the victims in each case was able to describe those attributes of the perps, I can't believe they were unable describe their ethnicity. What this appears to boil down to is either the authorities are not releasing such information which is odd, or that they are releasing such information and you're refusing to publish it which is doubly odd. If the police are not releasing such information, why are you as good reporters not asking? And if the police are releasing such information, why are you suppressing it?

Carrie, I'd like to know where you found that description of "The second suspect was described as a 20- to 25 year-old black man, according to police" in this story. I've searched and search. It's not there. Very simply, offering ages helps a little. Offering distinctive markings helps A LOT. And reporting the police report's race information trims the possible suspects WAY down. Offer the full description, not the PC one, please. Help us help the neighborhoodl.

TJ, be sure to follow the link that says "Read the full story here on Lincoln Square Patch."

So why not show us what you're reading from? You can easily post a PDF of your police reports you get using Google and their PDF embed programming...free of charge. Or will that be redacted to protect someone?

Actually, Paul, police do not allow us to make copies of the reports at the station. They are given to us for read-only purposes. I encourage you to use exercise your Freedom of Information Act rights to access the reports yourself.

"I encourage you to use exercise your Freedom of Information Act rights to access the reports yourself."

Isn't this kind of the job of the news media? Do we have to act like we're extracting teeth to get vital information which you may already have and may for some reason unbeknownst to me suppressing? If you're going to report the news, well then report the news. Especially if it helps to apprehend these menaces to society.

There's no need to quote me. I know what I wrote. We are committed to reporting the news and are among the only publications in the city publishing the blotter reports at all. You're welcome.

Yes, Paul. We go to the police station to read the reports. We cannot make copies of them, write on them or take them home. We are giving you the whole story and the information that we have. I'm sorry that you're not happy with that but I can assure you, many residents are thankful we are publishing the reports at all.

The headline to the article is entitled, "Longtime Guidelines for Identifying Suspects’ Race Questioned." All we're asking for is a full description. Too many of these blotter pages on sites seem to not have that. So yes, we're suspect. Can you explain to us what your journalistic standards are?

I read the article, Sarah. So, are you saying that Patch adheres to the standard of not reporting race to avoid profilng? If estimates of perpetrators' races does not provide helpful information in news stories, then neither does age, height, or facial hair. If Patch does not report race because it conflicts with their stylebook, just say so.

Sarah, I view this discourse as quite civilized. What is starting to become apparent with this discourse is that the likelihood of vital information being suppressed is more and more likely. So let me be blunt. Feel free to answer or duck the question if you wish. Were any of the reporters of the Patch advised of the ethnicity of any of the at large criminals and a decision made not to publish that information and if so, why? Pretty simple, straight forward and civil question which I'm sure everybody reading this thread would like to know. These are known criminals at large presenting danger to all of us. Are you hiding their ethnicity? If so, why?

Hey Paul,
I actually do live in Lakeview.

What does this have to do with anything? I'm from the north suburbs, Sarah hails from Missouri. Both of us now live here.