Why Moose quit: Joseph Farah says cash-hustling police chief is no hero

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Friday, June 20, 2003 | Joseph Farah

[JohnHuang2]

If you get your news anywhere but WorldNetDaily, you may be wondering why Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose quit.

Moose was proclaimed a "hero" by the media for his role in capturing the D.C. sniper suspects.

But was he a hero?

He certainly looked the part out there conducting those daily press conferences during the three weeks snipers paralyzed the Washington area.

But, later, a series of investigative stories by WorldNetDaily Washington bureau chief Paul Sperry certainly raised questions.

On the very day he resigned, WorldNetDaily broke a story about the way Moose used his position as police chief and the threat of a racism charge against the Marriott Corp. to hustle a $200,000 settlement from the hotel chain over a security check.

A week earlier, Sperry broke a story about Moose's complaints that he didn't earn as much as the police chief of Atlanta.

But it may have been a story broken a day earlier that was Moose's undoing. That was the one that explained how Moose was demoralizing his own department.

Four days earlier, there was the story about whether Moose would have to return money he accepted for a movie consulting fee.

A day before that, it was Mrs. Moose pleading for a special exemption from ethics rules because she and her husband needed more antiques in their home.

Then there was the consulting firm he set up four weeks after the sniper suspects were caught.

Then it was Mrs. Moose, again, immodestly comparing her husband to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Before that it was the police union investigating the way Moose handled the sniper investigation.

Then there was the story about the way Moose tried to persuade witnesses they saw something other than what they actually saw during the sniper probe.

Before that it was the story of how police ignored reports of eyewitnesses as to the race of the sniper suspects.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. There were also these stories:

• Secret sniper stake-out puts lie to Moose claim

• Cops: Chief Moose withheld look-out on sniper suspects

• Moose denies blocking police pay raise

• Beltway sniper likely foreign

I'm sure there are plenty of people scratching their heads today wondering why Moose would quit. They never saw these stories because they don't read WorldNetDaily, and few of these stories were picked up by other media.

But you knew, didn't you?

You knew the minute you heard the report that the chief had resigned that it was because of the unrelenting heat he endured from primarily one news agency.

And that's the value of WorldNetDaily. That's the power of the New Media. That's the positive side of a truly free press.

I just thought I would take a minute to remind you of all this. It's easy to forget. I didn't hear any of our colleagues lauding WorldNetDaily's intrepid coverage of the Moose scandals. I didn't hear a single mention of WorldNetDaily. I didn't read one in any press account. So, I thought I would set the record straight right here – at least for the people who already understand.

Moose may not be much of a hero, after all. But I will nominate reporter Paul Sperry as a journalistic hero for sticking with a story few colleagues wanted to see.

It made a difference.

[JohnHuang2]

Friday, June 20, 2003

Quote of the Day by Jim Robinson

[DoughtyOne]

A lot of the people here on the forum were on to Moose early on. I defended the guy at the time. I thought it was too premature to go after the guy. Oops! I was wrong.

I don't think the investigation was handled well at all and it appears that may be only one of his major problems.

Evidently his performance prior to this job was pretty poor.

Okay it's mia culpa time. I blew it.

[xm177e2]

WND has done a good job all along of hounding Moose, when most of the media wants to let him slide.

[fishbabe]

first,the white cops aren't allowed to do anything to black thugs and now affirmative action black cops put whites in jepardy...what a wonderful world this is becoming for criminals.no wonder blacks in congress wants thugs to be able to vote again....

[Djarum]

BTTT

[HiTech RedNeck]

You knew the minute you heard the report that the chief had resigned that it was because of the unrelenting heat he endured from primarily one news agency.

And Freerepublic

Ah, the smell of roast moose in the morning...

[Iwo Jima]

I don't think the investigation was handled well at all....

Boy, that's an understatement. Who knows how many people died because he refused to release known details about the killers (who were caught by alert citizens just hours after details about their car was made public) and because he insisted on giving out false information and "managing" witnesses' testimony. I always that he was a smooth operator and a phony who was way out of his league.

[HiTech RedNeck]

And considering the impact of what was going on. It's not like he mishandled a search for a shoplifter.

[DoughtyOne]

You know, you're obviously right. There's another case that baffles me to this day. That kidnapped kid in Colorado I belive it was. The PD there almost made Moose look good by comparison. They had a drawing of the perp that they held back for nearly a year. After they released it they had their guy in a couple of weeks. She was recovered and returned home. Sheesh. Dumb er what?

These facts are a little loose, but the premise is pretty accurate.

[Iwo Jima]

I think that you are referring to the Elizabeth Smart case in Utah. Yes, there the perp was well known in the community as a local nut case and the police had a sketch good enough so that shortly after its release he was spotted and arrested. Who's fault it was is hard to say because there was so much ill will and lack of trust between the police and the family (who provided the sketch).

The point is though, as you've said, there was a colossal failure to release appropriate information which could have assisted the public in helping to solve the crime. The police always say that they won't release information to protect the investigation/prosecution, but many times I think that just don't want the public "horning in" on their turf by doing their job of catching criminals.

[Iwo Jima]

Yea, you'd think that he would want all of the help he could get, but we heard stories of people trying to report things which could have been used to catch these two, only to be rebuffed because their details didn't match the "official" version. I mean, look how many times the young guy Malvo called to basically rat on himself and was turned down because he wasn't going through the right channels.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the additional thoughts. I agree with you.

[DoughtyOne]

I agree here too. "Sir, I'm sorry we don't take confessions on this line. Sir! Sir! Please call back on 212-xxx-5555. Sheesh!

[Xenalyte]

He certainly looked the part out there conducting those daily press conferences during the three weeks snipers paralyzed the Washington area.

Did anyone LISTEN to the press conferences? Moose's inability to speak coherently is stunning.

[Lady Eileen]

Moose Knew.

[Houmatt]

Then there was the story about the way Moose tried to persuade witnesses they saw something other than what they actually saw during the sniper probe.

This allegation, if true, screams obstruction of justice.

But don't expect any real investigation into the matter. Why?

I think that should be obvious.

[1Old Pro]

Does Moose rhyme with looser?

[HiTech RedNeck]

I mean, look how many times the young guy Malvo called to basically rat on himself and was turned down because he wasn't going through the right channels.

Looked at now, this is infuriating. Back then I would have given the Moose PD the benefit of the doubt for "strategery." Malvo knew after the first shot or two that Moose was an absolute twit.

[dixiechick2000]

If this weren't so sad, it would be laughable.

Political correctness does have consequences...