I don't want to start any flame wars with this comment, but it seems quite clear that LE does not view the average citizen as being able or willing to assist. Rather, LE is treating the average American citizen, and the media, as hindrances to their investigation. I beg to differ. LE has already made use of the media to broadcast their messages to the sniper, or the note-writer, or the phone-caller or all of the above.
I submit that the fear level increases as the public is denied information. As the fear level increases, the confusion increases, and as the confusion increases, the fear level increases, and so on. This only serves to empower the sniper, who already thinks of himself as "God."
(And I don't know what "BOLO" is, so I can't comment on that!)