It may look like a newspaper, but The Winchester Sun is actually a mirror, reflecting all aspects of the community — positive and negative — and bringing these into the public light.

The picture isn’t always flattering but it is reality.

The Sun staff has received lots of positive feedback when it comes to changes in news content but we often hear criticism about crime reports and why someone’s name and face has to be published.

Some of this stems from misunderstanding the motivation and the process.

We print all arrests from the sheriff’s office and the police department.

Which arrests or court cases become stories isn’t arbitrary or the newspaper playing favorites. We use some standard criteria to choose police reports that involve felony charges, violent offenses, the drug epidemic that is plaguing communities across Central Kentucky and any other crimes that create public safety issues.

Our intentions also seem to be misconstrued.

The goal isn’t to shame anyone. In fact, printing these isn’t about the person arrested at all. Our decision is about the rest of our citizens.

Public awareness and safety is our number one concern. Individuals who commit violent crimes or take drugs or alcohol and get behind the wheel of a car are placing the public at great risk and forfeit their right to privacy when it comes to these offenses.

Also, residents have a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent. Arresting, incarcerating and moving individuals who break the law through the court system costs the county millions of dollars each year.

This is money that could be better spent on so many other things but law enforcement has no choice but to continue to allocate valuable resources in the fight against drug abuse and other crimes.

There are many great things going on in Clark County. Last week we had dozens of stories and photographs highlighting some of these. This week is no different. Next week will be the same, too.

But we refuse to bury our heads in the sand and allow criminal behavior that impacts the public to chalked up to “just a mistake.”

That’s the type of enabling and lack of accountability that perpetuates a vicious cycle.

The first step to fixing a problem is admitting that there is one.

Don’t like what you see reflected? Then let’s work together to make positive changes in our community.

But don’t blame the mirror.

Michael Caldwell is publisher of The Winchester Sun and Winchester Living magazine. He can be reached at (859) 759-0095 or by email at mike.caldwell@winchestersun.com.