How do I find out??

[MsEva]

Yesterday was an interesting day on our street. I left for church at about 8:30AM and there were seven police vehicles (4 marked squads, 1 unmarked squad and 2 evidence technician SUVs) on our street. I got home around 10AM and one of the vehicles was in the driveway of a home four doors down from us. We left again around 12:30PM and all the vehicles were still there. When we got home around 3PM there were still three vehicles. I could still see two vehicles around 8PM when I ran out to my car.

We do not know these neighbors and I really hope nothing bad happened, but it worries me that so many police were involved. A few years ago I had a neighbor who was 39 pass away and there were three vehicles at her house and not for as long. I just want to know if it is something that the neighbors should worry about, like a break-in or assault. I admit that there is a huge curiosity factor too, but I don't need details if it was something domestic. I'm a SAHM with my toddler and my DH travels a lot. I have two large dogs, but the whole thing is a bit unnerving.

Does anyone know how I could find out what happened without being rude about it? How would you all feel if neighbors you never met rang your bell to find out why you had almost half the police department at your house? Please note that I am not going to do this, however another neighbor is contemplating it.

[Chocolate Cake]

I wonder if police reports are covered under the Freedom of Information Act?  I think they are.

Given the duration of the incident, I'd probably call your local precinct and ask when/if I could have access to the report.

Or, maybe you have a neighbor who is closer to the family than you are that you could ask to see what happened?

[Lisbeth]

Like you, I would not go over to your neighbor's and inquire.  That would be intrusive.

I guess I'd bide my time and wait for public reports to be issued.

[Rose2Bear]

Does anyone know how I could find out what happened without being rude about it? How would you all feel if neighbors you never met rang your bell to find out why you had almost half the police department at your house? Please note that I am not going to do this, however another neighbor is contemplating it.

I would slam the door in this persons face.  Please do not do this. (I know you said you wouldn't though so PHEW but tell your neighbor not to).  

If the events that happened are any business to you - ie, a break in, someone will probably notify you or you will see it on the news. If someone died and you don't know them, then it is not your business. As tempting as it can be to find out, it is absolutely NONE of your business.

[goblue2539]

Is it possible that the police could tell you?  If you call the office, they should be able to tell you if it's a personal or neighborhood problem.  Would that be enough to calm your nerves?  

On another note, we had a neighbor that we knew in passing down the street from us.  For about a month, there were ambulances there at midnight about once a week.  My mom finally got up the nerve to bring over some homemade bread for the family and ask if they were ok.  It was slightly embarrassing, but they appreciated the food and told us that their little boy was fine now, but had been having severe asthma attacks before that.  So, if baking is your thing, you could try the cautiously honest approach.  Because you do sound like you're honestly concerned about them, but this is a different situation.

I do I'm in the minority on this.  I guess I just see a difference between honest concern and nosiness. 

[Rose2Bear]

I just wanted to add that sometimes noisey-ness can be covered up with pretend honest concern. I am NOT in any way suggesting that is the OP's intentions, but I'm just saying that if you were the neighbors and someone you don't know came knocking on your door, they might think you were trying to act concerned just to get the "scoop" so that's another reason it might be best not to inquire, even when your concerns are legitimate (as the OPs seem to be).

[Verruca]

I'm with Rose on this one - there's no way not to seem nosy.  If it had been ambulances or fire trucks or other emergency vehicles, it would be natural to take food and make sure everyone was okay, because the assumption is that there was an accident/tragedy/loss of some sort that wasn't anyone's fault - but since it was all police, that puts a different spin on things.  In my head, at least.

[goblue2539]

If it had been ambulances or fire trucks or other emergency vehicles, it would be natural to take food and make sure everyone was okay, because the assumption is that there was an accident/tragedy/loss of some sort that wasn't anyone's fault - but since it was all police, that puts a different spin on things.  

That's a fair point.  I was just thinking of the last time this happened in my area, and it's been about 15 years.  So, I'm a little fuzzy on the details anyway.  Plus, I liked my first idea to call the police station better, if I do say so myself.

[Rei-chan]

Does your town's newspaper have a website?  You could try there. 

Our town has a local news "fire/police briefs" section that lists any crimes, fires, etc. from the day before.  If it was something criminal going on, it should be listed. 

[MsEva]

Does your town's newspaper have a website?  You could try there. 

Our town has a local news "fire/police briefs" section that lists any crimes, fires, etc. from the day before.  If it was something criminal going on, it should be listed. 

Thanks for the idea. I just checked the local paper's website and someone was fatally shot. It doesn't seem to be one of the residents of the home though. Police aren't releasing any more details. This is a quiet neighborhood where this isn't common at all. I really don't feel any better at this point.

[heathert]

I know you can look up police reports in some cities on the police department's website.  I think that is covered under the freedom of information act.  I know in my city I would go to the district that the report would've been filed in and it'll show all the reports filed in that area and, most of the time, the address.  It'll also note what type of incident occurred.

Heather 

[Pixie]

The small town where I used to live in Idaho had a serial rapist on the loose last summer.  He would break it to homes where the Husband (Military town ) was deployed.   I read the paper online and it was NEVER in the online paper. The only reason I knew was because I have friends there, and one of them knows one of the women who was raped.  The real story wasn't even in the local paper... they just reported break-ins but not that women had been raped.   


Sometimes word of mouth is far better than the paper.   If you really want to know what's going on in that town, go chat with a hospital employee, they know everything!