How is Tom Sawyer's failure to communicate detrimental to his community?

Tom's failure to communicate knowledge about Injun Joe's murder of Doc Robinson, followed by his subsequent silence about Joe's actions after his escape leaves the townspeople in danger and ignorant of the man's activites. Had Tom come froward from the start (Huck as well), many of Injun Joe's latter movements and actions might have been thwarted. Tom put himself, the people in his town in danger because he does not communicate facts and fears to the adults around him.