The Valleyfair press release

[chinakay]

Not lengthy, but here it is:

Valleyfair Statement Regarding Incident on 07-04-08
Release Date: July 14, 2008


Shortly after the park closed on 07-04-08, a Valleyfair employee witnessed an altercation in the park. The employee immediately notified Valleyfair Security, which dispatched officers to the location. Valleyfair Security Dispatch also contacted the Shakopee Police Department for assistance.

Before Valleyfair security officers arrived, the assailants had left the area. Valleyfair security officers provided assistance to one guest who was involved in the altercation and called for additional medical assistance, while other officers pursued the assailants through the park to the main parking lot, where the Shakopee Police Department apprehended and arrested the individuals involved in the altercation.

Guest and employee safety is always the top priority at Valleyfair. Valleyfair is a very safe family amusement park, and we will continue to do whatever is necessary to make it as safe as possible for our guests and employees.

[David]

Sheesh, what was the point of releasing that? It doesn't say anything at all. It's like saying, "There was a fire at one of our buildings today. The fire department was called. They put the fire out. We will always do whatever it takes to prevent our buildings from burning." So what?

And they'll "continue" to do "whatever it takes"? I'm not slagging them for any part of the original incident, but this press release was written by a third-grader. The purpose of a press release is to put a spin on the story, or present your side of it. This doesn't even do that.

[Jeff Bergquist]

Sheesh, what was the point of releasing that? It doesn't say anything at all. It's like saying, "There was a fire at one of our buildings today. The fire department was called. They put the fire out. We will always do whatever it takes to prevent our buildings from burning." So what?

And they'll "continue" to do "whatever it takes"? I'm not slagging them for any part of the original incident, but this press release was written by a third-grader. The purpose of a press release is to put a spin on the story, or present your side of it. This doesn't even do that.

I don't understand your problem with that release. It concisely states the facts of the incident without much apparent ulterior agenda or spin. I find that refreshing in this age of lying by telling the truth selectively. To my mind it also leaves me the impression "This is what happened, this is what we did, our conscience is clean."

[jac714]

Not lengthy, but here it is:

...while other officers pursued the assailants through the park to the main parking lot, where the Shakopee Police Department apprehended and arrested the individuals involved in the altercation.

This part of the release interests me, it implies the event took place in the park itself rather than in the parking lot. Am I reading it wrong or is that what happened?

Not the most details but a rather concise and apparently neutral accounting ot the events.

Thanks China.

[Jeff Bergquist]

Not lengthy, but here it is:

...while other officers pursued the assailants through the park to the main parking lot, where the Shakopee Police Department apprehended and arrested the individuals involved in the altercation.

This part of the release interests me, it implies the event took place in the park itself rather than in the parking lot. Am I reading it wrong or is that what happened?

Not the most details but a rather concise and apparently neutral accounting ot the events.

Thanks China.

That's the impression I got as well.

[chinakay]

Someone has already told you in another thread that the incident did not happen in the parking lot.

It happened inside the park.

The press release was largely ignored by the media. Additionally, the release was written before all the controversy erupted on a couple of local forums and its purpose was not to straighten out everybody's misconceptions...

[David]

Thanks for the clarification, China, THAT's what I was getting at. Considering all the hubbub, I was expecting a lengthier release that addressed all the contradictory statements that have been made. Since this was written before all that, it stands to reason they'd be brief, because there were no issues to tackle at that time.

[someone1980]

there were no issues to tackle at that time.

What happens to the picture of events if one discounts what the Star and Trib says?