Delaware County Daily Times - Nov 1, 1999 Article

Our job is twofold: To report the news and tell your stories by Phil Heron

Delaware County Daily Times (Primos - Upper Darby, PA) - Monday, November 1, 1999

People often call me to complain about things in the newspaper. And sometimes people want to vent about things that weren't in the paper. Last week we got both. A lot of what we deliver to your doorstep each day is by nature bad news: Murders and various other crimes, fires, lawsuits, obituaries, any number of downers.

Last week one of those stories involved the death of Francis J. Schneider, a member of the Delaware County Park Police who also worked part time as an officer in Colwyn and the Southeast Delco School District.

Schneider had been struck by a car on Chester Pike at Calcon Hook Road while on his way to the store. He died several days later.

His Sharon Hill community was dumbstruck at the loss.

Staff writer Rose Quinn reported the story and got reaction from co-workers and acquaintances. What we learned was that Delaware County had lost a gem. His boss at the park police hailed Schneider for his compassion for people. The story ran on Page Five with a photo of Schneider.

In the last graph of the story, it was noted that he was engaged and had bought a house. I sensed there was more to the story than we had presented and asked Rose to contact the family.

The result was our lead Saturday story. It turns out Schneider was a twin who had held his sister in his arms when she lost her fight with neurofibromatosis at the age of 30.

We talked to family members, including his brother, who gave loving memories of his sibling. We, and our readers, learned the family's belief that Francis and his sister were now reunited and how that comforted them in their loss.

We often call the families of those who have lost loved ones for their reactions and comments. Some politely decline. Some are outraged, calling us ghouls and vultures waiting to pick apart the carcass. If someone decides not to talk to us, so be it. That'certainly their right. We leave them alone in their loss.

But you'd be surprised how often people actually want to talk about it, bringing out family pictures and giving us, and our readers, a much more complete picture of the deceased. Family members often say it's therapeutic and tell us they feel much better having had the opportunity to express their feelings about their loved one.

One thing we do not do, unless there is compelling extenuating circumstances, is cover funerals. Sometimes a story is of such a magnitude that we find ourselves compelled to offer some type of coverage, often including photos of mourners. In these instances we routinely contact the family. If they vehemently oppose, we usually accede to their wishes.

Francis Schneider was buried Monday. On Tuesday I got a phone call from a woman upset that we had not covered the funeral. I tried to explain our policy and that we had done two stories on Schneider, including one on Saturday that led the paper.

She was not satisfied and pointed out we had taken a photo of a procession of Delco officers en route to New Jersey for the funeral of a slain policeman. "I think he (Schneider) at least deserved that," she said.

She was right. And if we had I no doubt would have gotten a phone call from someone wanting to know how we could be cold, so unfeeling as to intrude on the family at this moment. I think we made the right call.

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RIVERA RAP: So much for what we didn't do. Now for the response to what we did do.

We have received several Sound Off items and phone calls from readers critical of our decision to interview Robert Rivera in Delaware County Prison. Rivera , you will remember, is jailed on kidnapping charges in the abduction of his daughter Katelyn . Rivera granted a jailhouse interview to Rose Quinn in which he insisted Katelyn is alive, but maintained "only me and God know where Katelyn is." Unfortunately, Rivera wasn't ready to reveal her whereabouts and said the situation won't change "until he's ready."

The callers blasted us on two fronts: Giving Rivera publicity and for inserting ourselves into the news. I would disagree on both parts.

Like some other things, news happens. When it does, we cover it. When the suspect in a case involving a toddler that has gripped the county for months decides to send us a letter or grant us an interview, that's news and what he has to say is news. We report it. And we also alert the district attorney's office.

Our goal in this case from Day One has been to report the news and keep our readers informed in what has been a compelling drama.

That's what we did. We make no apologies for it.

Philip E. Heron is editor of the Daily Times. His "Letter from the Editor" appears every Monday. Call him at (610) 622-8818.