Former Metrolink Spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell: Martyr or Victim?
Posted by: Allen Wilson | 09/16/2008 6:00 PM
Metrolink Spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell, resigned yesterday over rush to judgment statements alledging that the Metrolink Train engineer was at fault on the devastating crash last week in Chatsworth.
According to Tyrrell, David Solow, Chief Executive Officer of Metrolink, "agreed" for her to make public statements to display the need to rebuild the public trust.
Unfortunately, it doesn't slow things down, but complicate matters for Metrolink and Mrs. Tyrrell, which now becomes a public relations disaster for the rail agency.
It begs the question: Was Mrs. Tyrrell a martyr or victim of circumstance as an subordinate employee?
As for one to stand on principle to calm the public when a controversy stirs emotions, despite the need save Metrolink from possible endless lawsuits, serves no interest to the taxpayers or the riders that use the rail service for commuting purposes in the five county-metropolitan area.
Now, comes to the picture of Metrolink's Chief Solow, who gave the "green" light in authorizing the agency's Spokesperson to make a statement, which obviously opened the panadora box on the issue of liability for Metrolink.
Mr. Solow should be grilled at the next meeting by Metrolink Board of Directors.
No closed door sessions, but open public meetings through public input to ensure that questions are answered directly, not sugarcoated or beating around the bush by Metrolink officials, including Mr. Solow.
However, when an employee is paid $86,000 to do a job, should do so with careful and prudent thought process that he/she represents an agency that serves the public interest, not let emotions get into the heart of the situation.
Although, like Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe says the obvious on how the situation could have been handled, "It would have been more appropriate to have said, 'It appears the Metrolink train ran a red light. How it happened remains to be determined by the National Transportation Board, which has taken control of the investigation.' "
At this point, one has forfeited her job and no matter how much heavy lifting is being done on Mrs. Tyrrell's behalf for her to get her job back, Metrolink's reputation is serverely damaged.
Furthermore, it makes one wonder why did the agency even have such position as "Spokesperson", when the Chief Mr. Solow is paid handsomely, who should be leading the organization, but has failed to do so.
Allen Wilson is exactly the kind of person who would like another Bush term. I applaud the SGV...
Ms. Tyrrell's did her job to best of her ability and was authorized by the Metrolink CEO to make the statement that cost her her job. Any communications professional in a similar situation should view this event with alarm. When a message is approved and delivered, second guessing the messenger is not appropriate. One might quibble with the phrasing of this infomation, which was factually correct. The only reason to withhold information from the public is allow proper notification of next of kin, or avoid a mass panic. To castigate a public servant for being forthright is despicable. We expect this of politicians, not our civil servants. It is true that the scene of the press conference was a gruesome scene in a highly emotinally charged environment. Clearly everyone was on edge. That affects the judgement of individuals regardless of professional background Ms. Tyrrell frankly should not have been the messenger. Metrolink's CEO should have stepped up and taken responsibility, not the agency spokesperson.