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Police
chief criticizes media
The eastern United States has been abuzz
with news of the recent eight victims, six
of who are dead, of the still unapprehended
sniper.
One of the wounded victims includes a 13-year-old
boy whom was shot while he was going to
school in Bowie, Md.
Authorities report that each victim was
shot with a high-powered gun from a considerable
distance. They also say that the sniper
is considered to be a cold and calculation
“spree-killer” with a score to settle.
Because of the “serial-killer” label that
has been given to this individual, extensive
media coverage is bound to occur. And as
we all know, in the wake of Sept. 11 and
from the past O.J. Simpson and Ramsey extravaganzas,
when extensive media coverage comes with
conflict.
Authorities and the media have already begun
to conflict in regards to the sniper that
has been terrorizing Washington’s suburbs.
Wednesday, Montgomery County Police Chief
Charles Moose chastised the media for reporting
leaked information about a tarot card found
at one of the murder scenes with the message,
“Mr. Policeman, I am God,” written on the
back.
Police sources said that on the card, the
sniper also requested that his message not
be revealed to the media. Detectives believed
that if the request had been honored, the
sniper might attempt to communicate with
authorities once again.
In his anger over the coverage of the leaked
information, Moose sarcastically suggested
that the press should just take over the
investigation themselves.
According to the Washington Post, Dave Roberts,
the news director of the television station
that broadcasted the information, “the information
was obtained from several credible sources
actively involved in the ongoing investigation.”
He said that a request to withhold the information
was never made.
It is understandable that Moose may be a
little overwhelmed by the sort of media
coverage surrounding the sniper situation,
if he is not used to it. However, he must
realize that he does not and cannot control
the media, and that the media will not operate
under his orders.
Moose must also realize that it is the job
of the media to create a national dialogue
and provide important news and information
about what is currently happening in the
situation. The media do not do this with
the intent to impede any investigation.
As a police chief, Moose should understand
that.
It can be safely said that the people involved
in the media coverage want to catch this
murderer the same as everyone else. Law
enforcement and the media can and must find
a way to work together to do that.
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