I would like to give kudos to the Sandpoint Police Department for recognizing the power of the internet and razzies to self proclaimed “local” media that have lost track of its value and purpose. A wreck near Cocolalla this morning should, if all of us who purport to serve the public view it honestly, sound a clarion.

Trust has been lost, and for a simple reason; we no longer seem to appreciate the intelligence of those we serve.

A serious accident that might have threatened many lives occurred this morning; law enforcement stopping traffic on Highway 95 near milepost 460 for miles in both directions, frustrated motorists stranded without knowing why until they passed the scene.

A truck carrying ammonium nitrate crashed, spreading a noxious gas.

I first learned of the accident and tried my best as a journalist to get word out based on insufficient data from someone who heard it on the scanner; I received official confirmation that it was true at 1:57 p.m. in an email from Idaho State Police saying the highway would be shut down indefinitely.

Two misconceptions are at play; the media’s perception that they’re the sole vehicle to get word out to a wide audience, and law enforcement’s idea that they can control the dissemination of news.

It’s not just the media anymore that gets word out … it’s potentially anyone who drives by with a cell phone and an opinion. We all have “reach” via the internet.

The Sandpoint Police Department, in using Facebook, has recognized an amazing fact; they don’t need a journalist to tell their news, they can take responsibility for themselves.

Journalists in most media haven’t realized it yet; they still seem to think they need time to analyze and publish “the truth” when all they need to do is get word out.

Try to find an important piece of news you need right now to save your life, your family or your community, you’ll in most cases be denied unless you answer a pop-up poll, view an ad or subscribe.

What both sides seem to have forgotten is our mutual purpose, to serve and protect.

We seem to have lost faith in one another. Worse yet, it appears we’ve lost sense of our abilities; we distrust one another.

The public is the victim.