To The Editor:

The vehicle accident that resulted in the death of Botsford Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Pete Blomberg is a very sad situation, that should also bring light to how drivers speed up and down Church Hill Rd between Sandy Hook center and the I84 overpass near Walnut Tree Hill Rd. Even when trying to exit Walnut Tree Hill Rd it gets very dangerous as drivers traveling west bound on Church Hill Rd are always coming too fast and the view is limited. That driver, to have hit Assistant Chief Pete Blomberg had to be either speeding or distracted.

I’m writing to express my concern about the inconsistency in reporting names in incidents covered by our local news. Often, names are published in police reports for minor infractions or incidents, putting individuals under public scrutiny even when the matters are relatively minor. However, recently, I noticed that in the tragic case involving a firefighter who was struck and killed, the driver’s name was not reported. This inconsistency raises questions about transparency and fairness.

It’s understandable that privacy considerations are important, but selective naming creates a perception of unequal treatment and, in some cases, a lack of accountability. I believe a more consistent approach to naming in police reports could help the public better understand how decisions are made in these cases. Everyone deserves fairness, and this extends to how information is disclosed in matters of public safety and justice.

Rene Fernandez

Sandy Hook

Editor’s Note: The decision to withhold the name of the driver connected to the pedestrian death of Botsford Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Pete Blomberg was not made by The Newtown Bee. As reported in this newspaper last week, the name has yet to be released by Newtown Police Department. As a matter of full disclosure, The Newtown Bee’s policy is to publish all reports released to us, excepting domestic disputes, and to include all information provided by the Newtown Police Department, excluding names of minors and victims of certain types of crimes (which are generally not released by any police department anyway).