If you commit a crime in Belleville….be prepared to hear your name on the radio or read it in the local newspaper or news blog. A new Belleville City Police policy begins Monday that will see the names of all people charged released to the local media daily. The new “revised” procedure was explained at a meeting in Chief Cory McMullan’s office Thursday afternoon. The policy of releasing names isn’t consistant among local police services but starting next week City Police will release all names except for sexual or domestic assaults in which the victim may be identified or suicides. Sergeant Julie Forestell was introduced as the new full-time media officer. She started in the position this week and has been working overtime each day due to the national interest in the Jessica Lloyd case. Both Chief McMullan and Deputy Paul Vandegraaf stressed the service intends to be as open as possible with the media and provide information more consistantly than in the past.
