Hi, Kimber70! Welcome to Websleuths and thank you for your hard work on the TCSO Cold Case Task Force! As a random user with no interest other than to hopefully clarify a thing or two, I can assure you that LEOs and all others who dedicate their time and talents to crime and investigations regarding UIDs, etc. are highly respected and appreciated here by most members and ALL mods, staff, etc. and WS owner, Tricia.
With all due respect to you and in my humble opinion based on the messages posted, I don't see where Carl took "credit" for anything. Rather, carbuff offered kudos to CarlK in the posted comment (From Carbuff's post above--"
Whoa. Carl scores another one! Way to go."). I interpret the compliment to mean CarlK "scored" by simply (which isn't meant to imply simple sleuthing abilities!) introducing Ms. Riles as a potential match and following up by contacting Mr. Nance, the NamUs rep. I agree with carbuff that CarlK rightfully so deserves a shout out.
Hunting potential matches is what many of us WSers do because we care! CarlK deserved the recognition given just as he deserves respect from you. You deserve congrats and respect for your work and I'd stand up and speak on your behalf as well. But, it'd serve you and other investigators well to realize and remember that "credit" isn't being taken from officials when WSers make posts such as this one. Credit is being given to a member because in our WS world and most often without the investigative answers and tools LE and other investigators (e.g., MEs, anthros, scientists, etc.) may have at their disposal, Sleuthers go above and beyond to HELP you do your jobs more effectively and efficiently. For most of us it's like an unofficial partnership between LE and the public, to whom most LE organizations turn when they need answers that are alluding the investigation.
Perhaps you should spend some time reading through many of the UID posts, current and dated ones, to see just how much effort and passion (yes, that overused word, but that's what it is for most of us here) go into these cases. 99.999% of the time you'll see nothing but respectful comments regarding LE. Criticisms are given when warranted (imo) but overall it's about working together to give someone's identity back, seek justice on their behalf if applicable, and to reunite the deceased with their loved ones. We'd all love to be famous, but few will ever be, and we're okay with that. CarlK, well, he's already made his name in the WS world and even more importantly, in the official circles of UID investigations. His name is
Carl Koppelman. Just do a quick web search and you'll see he's earned his reputation! Prove me wrong with a link or official document, but I don't think you will
ever find in any kind of search a time when Mr. Koppelman complained about any "credit" he deserved, wasn't given, or was taken by another. Not everyone is out for fame and notiriety. On the forums of WS you'll rarely find that that is the case.
Thanks for stopping by and good luck in your career. Before I close I'll offer an unsolicited tip though, from an old granny girl--
Learn to share in celebrations of solved cases or parts of cases. Group work is vital to your field of business. Alienating and/or criticising people will eventually prove to hamper your successes rather than to enhance them. It's not ever going to be about a single person. Never...
Oh, and good job too on throwing the Deputy under the bus in your comment. I'll pray you never make an investigatory mistake--but you will. Therefore, I'll also pray for you to have a blessed time typing up your draft of any retraction statements you'll have to make.
Good day!