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Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad July 25, 2005 Truth vs. hype not good vs. evil Heated rhetoric stemming from biased, passionate support is certainly not new to Ashland. But as is often true, even the best of traits, taken too far, can be hurtful. Such is the case among the impassioned backers of Ashland Police Chief Mike Bianca. Almost immediately following the publication of a series of news reports explaining deep division within the city police department, impassioned and uninformed support filled e-mail baskets, chat rooms and our own editorial page. A rally in support of the chief, a local son who is beloved by the community, was well attended, offering Bianca a collective embrace. But that love has gone too far, in recent days, such that even Bianca has issued a public statement asking his supporters to find a more peaceful approach. We would hope that approach would start with an interest in the truth. The facts of this story are still being uncovered, but much of what is agreed to be true by most everyone involved has been utterly aside in the groundswell to first, support Bianca, and secondly, cast his critics in the police departments as the evil villains. Support for Bianca is commendable. Castigating his subordinates as shoot-to-kill outsiders, as many have done recently, is irresponsible and uninformed. The city council and staff support for a peaceful method of policing, as described in the police mission statement, is so ardent that the philosophy is virtually institutionalized. But that does not dismiss the legitimate procedural concern as expressed by a majority of those in uniform. Frustration is high. Bianca took a health-related, month-long leave of absence. Police officers have been targets of verbal abuse and have struggled to find a common ground among themselves. It’s a tough time, one that calls for cautioned evaluation. To its credit, the city appears to be taking the concern of the police association seriously. Consultants have been hired to assist in this evaluation, offer Bianca training where needed and help repair Bianca’s relationship with his officers. Given time, resolution may be possible. But it must start with truth, something sorely lacking from much of the local spin. To be sure, Bianca sees the problems stemming from philosophical differences with his subordinates. But city leaders believe the problems are largely procedural, not philosophical, or at worst, some combination of both. At the core, however, the facts don’t bear out that this is about peace officers vs. shoot-to-kill out-of-towners as some would have us believe. It is not contradictory to offer Bianca enthusiastic support philosophically, while recognizing that mistakes may have been made procedurally. Any leader has a learning curve. Further, reporting the nature of the concern among the police force is not “media hype.” We have offered reasoned, fair and temperate reporting. We went to great lengths to report the facts to all concerned, something the impassioned e-mailers failed to do. In recent days, Bianca is to be commended for seeking to bring resolution and peace back to Ashland’s police force. He has asked people to avoid an “us against them” philosophy. He truly wants to repair his relationship to his staff. Residents of Ashland would do well to allow him the time to do just that. --> Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.