Hatfield Police.
Hatfield Police Chief William Tierney urged the public to stop sharing the video of the assault on social media: "A headline is not news and a headline does not always represent the facts"
In the wake of a serious assault on a woman in the early Thursday morning hours outside an apartment at Hatfield Village, Hatfield Township Police Chief WIlliam Tierney urged the public to stop sharing the video of the victim, who has been treated and released from Grand View Hospital.
TIerney posted the following statement on the Hatfield Police Facebook page Friday morning:
All,
I am confident that by now most of you have seen the report of an assault in our community. I am aware of the many questions out there about this case. Many things I can’t comment on as the investigation requires confidentiality.
First and foremost, the victim deserves privacy. The video hit social media sites before we had it in hand. People figured out the identity of the victim and where they live. Following that, the place where they live was immediately made to look like a hotbed for crime. Then the Hatfield community was labeled as being unsafe, people online were posting that they were going to move. I tell you this as this shows how fast things can turn on us, all of us.
A headline is not news and a headline does not always represent the facts. It grabs the attention of people and then it’s off to the races. While our officers and detectives are investigating the crime, I am left to try to answer the myriad of questions about the crime. I am more than good with that, it’s my job.
I tell you this so you know the process, crime isn’t solved like it is on TV, it takes time, patience and cooperation. With that, I can tell you these things:
• While we are keeping an open mind with this event, we are working on it as a targeted crime
• The victim has been released from the hospital
• We are interviewing numerous people and we are looking at videos locally and regionally
• All four of our Detectives are assigned to this case and I can assure you they have this well in hand
I also want you to know this. Hatfield is a very safe place. Hatfield Village is a safe place. People work together to help us do our jobs. Although the video made its way online, it also gave us pieces of the puzzle that we need to bring closure for the victim in this case. As I have said in the past, I will always let you know if your safety is at risk. If there was a belief that anyone was at risk, you absolutely would have heard it from me.
Please continue to work with us to solve this crime and to keep all of you and your families safe, both now and in the future.
Thank you for the trust you place in this police department.
I am always available to you. I can be reached at wtierney@hatfield.org or at (215) 855-0903 ext. 219.
Sincerely,
Chief Tierney
