The 'community' is immediately effected by catastrophic events. It is the 'community' who then overwhelmingly notify the police that a catastrophic event has happened. Providing sometimes (and often not) disparate accounts of what occurred. There would be no facts upon which to venture an educated opinion of the truth were it not for the social community. There is a "Kernel of Truth" theory which posits the principle that there exists a core or nucleus of truth amongst the wild generalizations that are usually applied to particular people, events or things. (tip of the hat to Wikipedia...which often has its own kernels of truth.)