Let’s allow the investigation to take its course before we decide what happened in what appears to be a tragic situation all around. 

The Cody Police Department has done a very good job of putting out information as to what led to an officer shooting and killing a former Cody resident last week, but there are still questions many people understandably want answered. 

We’re with them. 

However, putting out theories or deciding to cry foul on the police department before all the facts are in is irresponsible. Have those thoughts to yourself, sure, but whipping people up into a frenzy over something you don’t have a clear idea about doesn’t do any good. 

Thankfully, with how much has already been put out about the incident by the police in the first week, more questions are answered than is often the case in these situations, and for that I applaud the Cody police. 

Hopefully this is an example of how transparency by our public entities can lead to less grist for the rumor mill that inevitably kicks up during an incident such as this. 

Getting out in front of a situation is, in my opinion, always the best course of action. 

In my time as a journalist in a few different states and a variety of communities, I’ve seen government entities handle situations well and poorly. And while a quick release of information in a big incident doesn’t necessarily lead to less criticism, it avoids the entity being accused of covering up aspects in the first place. 

And that’s how the conspiracy theories start: “If the government is covering up this, it must mean it’s really bad.”

The info on the shooting would come out eventually, so good on Cody police for not waiting and letting even more rumors fly.