"No Comment" is Not an Acceptable Answer

I once had a TV boss with no tolerance for the police department and especially none for the police chief. When the cops refused to talk to us about a case, Ken insisted we find someone, anyone, who could, "Stick it to 'em!"

One of his favorite sayings: "No Comment is not an acceptable answer." 

That's true for news reporters, but it's also true for crime fiction writers. A number of young or first-time novelists have approached me at conferences and elsewhere to ask how they can get information from unwilling local police departments. Apparently it's common nowadays for law enforcement agencies to refuse to answer even the most harmless questions from any civilian...not just the news media.

Here are a couple of work-arounds I've used that you might find helpful.

Approach the police chief, not the guy on the front desk. Explain that you're a fiction writer, not a journalist, and that you're looking for basic, procedural information, not asking about specific cases. Offer to share what you've written before its published (a good idea in any case to make sure you have the sometimes arcane information correct). If you still get push-back, offer to give the town you're writing about a different name (Ed McBain did so and look up his sales numbers sometime).

If the police chief won't help you,  the local union that represents the police or sheriff's officers in your area may very well agree to answer your questions. Police unions often have a much different take on what information can be discussed. Union officials can also point you to retired officers eager to share their experiences and discuss the way the agency works.

If you still find yourself banging your head against a wall of silence, a call to the mayor or a council representative may unlock some lips. Politicians love to see their names in print (and on an acknowledgements page of a crime novel may work for them). Remember, no matter how "independent" a police agency is, the chief always reports to the mayor or city/village manager and town council.
 
Here are a couple of other thoughts. Social media, especially Facebook and Twitter, is full of all sorts of people, including cops. Many towns have their own social media contact person. Link up, follow, and make friends.

If you can afford it, buy a police radio scanner. I started freelancing for the local paper after buying my first scanner in high school. It's a good way to learn the sorts of calls that your town handles. Some jurisdictions have made their police communications very difficult to monitor but most places don't go to that extreme. Ask at your local Radio Shack (Ask as well if there is a radio hobby group in the area. They may have police officer or retired police officer members.) One caution: after listening for awhile, you may be tempted to chase the police calls. While that can be exciting, you're probably not going to get close enough see much, you risk injury,  and you may annoy the very officers whose help you're seeking. On the other hand, if you're cautious and responsible about your chasing, you might meet some good sources.

They key to getting information from anyone is to be quietly, respectfully persistent. Eventually, even some of the toughest of the tough will eventually realize you're a willing listener...and there's nothing most cops like more than sharing war stories.