Tuesday night's news was dominated by fires and the horrific murder of a 6-year-old girl whose body turned up in a West Jordan canal, just yards from the home from which she had been abducted. ---

What caught my eye—or rather my ear—about this particular news story was an intriguing statement by West Jordan's Chief of Police, Doug Diamond.

"If, during the course of this investigation, an imminent threat becomes known, we will share that information with our residents immediately." He then continued, "I believe there's no need to panic at this time."

So is the chief saying there may be a time to panic? If so, when? How should we respond? What kind of threat would require said state of panic? 

I wonder what the chief's press officer made of these curiously oblique statements regarding public safety. 

Put those against his other comment that, yes, "unfortunately, we have people out there who are monsters," and confusion only increases.

Run all this together and you get that, yes, there are monsters abroad, but, no, don't worry about it. Indeed.