FARGO, ND – In the wake of Sunday morning’s fatal shootings in Fargo, the City of Fargo is set to discuss developing a policy on communicating with the public – and the media – during times of crisis.
At the Fargo City Commission meeting on Monday, Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney addressed the shootings and the handling of public communications at the request of Commissioner Michelle Turnberg.
“I apologize, because when I got up in the morning on Sunday, I said, ‘We should have a press conference sometime today,’” Mayor Mahoney said. “(The) Police Chief wanted to wait on that.”
He said that there will be a policy developed in the future by the commission.
“I think the public gets concerned, wants to know what’s going on and is worried about what’s happening in our community,” Mahoney said. “Whether it’s a flood fight or it’s any type of disaster in our community, the press has been our friend oftentimes and helps us.”
He went on to refer to the neighbors, both near the Broadway incident and on the city’s south side, who likely were questioning whether or not they were safe.
“I think the public deserves us to come in front of you and tell you what we’re doing, what’s happening, what we know or don’t know,” Mahoney said. “We might not know much, we might know a little.”
Mahoney said that he’s asked City Administrator Michael Redlinger to work with Police Chief David Zibolski to design a communication plan. He referred to the July 14 fatal shooting of officer Jake Wallin, saying the city ‘wasn’t quite used to that.’
“We had to figure that out,” Mahoney said. “But I do think, for the public, we have to have a communication plan, so you feel comfortable.”
