The police took the position that if they had publicized the fact that a serial rapist was attacking women in the area, he would have simply committed his crimes in a different location, making his apprehension difficult. In fact, the Toronto police had threatened to charge Doe with mischief, because she put up posters in her neighbourhood warning about the Balcony Rapist.
The police believed that disclosing information about the serial rapist might encourage him to change his location, making it harder to apprehend. In contrast, the Toronto police considered punishing Doe for putting up posters in her area warning about the Balcony Rapist.