Posted on 07/04/2006 5:54:46 PM PDT by phoenix0468
I was just watching an episode of the television show “First 48 Hours” on the A&E network that was detailing the investigation into a string of murders in Kansas City, MO. The detectives are getting leads to find the bodies of murdered prostitutes from the suspected killer; in the episode they had found five. They make the decision to hold a press conference with the media and during the press conference it is disclosed that the killer had been calling from a cell phone. This information was not to be used in the media report, as requested by the police department, as it was the method the police planned to use to track where the caller was located.
Unbelievably one of the detectives watches Fox News 4 Kansas City reporting the exact details they were asked not to. As anyone would guess, no more calls came in from the killer, now attributed to over ten murders, and branded by the police as a serial killer.
I would personally like to admonish this news agency for their complicit actions regarding leaking very sensitive information that very well assisted a possible serial killer from evading law enforcement. This is the kind of journalism that is both dangerous to our communities and extremely self-seeking.
I hope residents in the Kansas City area remind themselves of this action and make an effort to boycott this stations news broadcasts or even the channel’s entire lineup.
Depending on who disclosed it, it sounds like the police are at fault.
If the press already knew the police should have been closed-mouthed about it.
If the police disclosed it then the officer that did so should be fired for his "look at the big brain on ME" moment.
Dianne Feinstein spoke to the media about information about Richard Ramirez that the police didn't want released.
If I recall correctly she said that police were closing in on the killer because they knew what kind of shoes he was wearing. Ramirez, watching the interview, wisely ditched the shoes and got some new ones.
I blame Feinstein but I also blame the police. They shouldn't have told her.
So the police called a press conference and either announced or confirmed something they didn't want anyone to know about?
Stupid coppers wanting their mug on TV.
Not necessarily. The media were asked no to disclose thsi info, and they did it anyway. Remember when the media "let it slip" that we were going to be able to track Osama due to the type of cave formations that were in the background of his videotapes, then the next tape came out and the background was covered up witha blanket or something to that effect.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1608272.stm
http://edition.cnn.com/2001/COMMUNITY/10/18/ret.shroder.cnna/
http://openweb.tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/2001-11/2001-11-26-CBS-2.html
http://openweb.tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/2001-10/2001-10-23-NBC-8.html
http://www.agiweb.org/geotimes/feb02/Feature_Shroderside.html
'Jack Shroder was drinking his morning tea on September 11 when he saw the World Trade Center in flames. After seeing the second plane crash, he knew it was not an accident.
He called up to his wife, Susie, who came running down the stairs. A half-hour later, he turned to his wife and said, “This just changed our lives big time,” Shroder recalls. “They’re going to find me. This is from Afghanistan. It’s Osama bin Laden and
Washington is going to remember my expertise.” They did. And Jack Shroder’s life took a big turn. '
I wouldn't call it a slip...was more like an idjit with an inflated ego and a big mouth hankering after his 15 Minutes.
Ok, I didn't remember that guy's name, and I was really tired when I made the post.
Ever hear that parable of the fox (or frog?) carrying a scorpion across the river on it's back?
It's the media's nature to disclose these things. Good, bad or otherwise it's the way they are.
It's a foolish peace officer that forgets this or treats them as anything other than an amoral tool.
Fortunately I missed that report or I may have done something THEY would have regretted. IYKWIM?
I don't necesserily disagree with that, except for the fact that the press revealed the information with full knowledge that the perp could have been watching. Yes, there is a chance that he may not have been, but as it turned out, the perp never again called, 1+1=2, IMO.
Wow, and this guy didn't get in any trouble for that "slip" eh? Well, I guess it hadn't been deamed sensitive or secret yet. Still, common sense should have told this guy to shut his yap until he had spoken with the feds.
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