NCJ Number
58280
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 27-32
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE CURRENT TENSIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PRESS IN PHILADELPHIA AND THE HEATED DEBATE ABOUT POLICE BRUTALITY ARE EXPLORED; REASONS FOR THE CONFLICT ARE HIGHLIGHTED.
Abstract
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS CONTEND THAT COVERING THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN COVERING DEPARTMENTS IN OTHER CITIES. THEY STATE THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN EVEN THE MOST BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT A CRIME, THAT ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO THE COMMISSIONER PRIOR TO DOING A FEATURE STORY, AND THAT TALKING TO POLICE AT THE CRIME SCENE IS FORBIDDEN. MOST REPORTERS AND EDITORS STATE THAT FRANK RIZZO'S UNYIELDING LAW AND ORDER ATTITUDE HAS CAUSED THE STEADY DETERIORATION BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PRESS, PARTICULARLY THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER STAFF. RIZZO CONTENDS THE PHILADELPHIA NEWS MEDIA HAS GIVEN THE NATION A FALSE IMPRESSION OF POLICE BRUTALITY IN THE CITY; HIS TESTIMONY WAS SHARPLY DISPUTED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE PHILADELPHIA U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AT RECENT U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS HEARINGS. THE CURRENT TENSIONS STAND IN MARKED CONTRAST TO THE SITUATION TEN YEARS AGO WHEN RIZZO WAS POLICE COMMISSIONER, WHEN HIS METHODS AND PHILOSOPHY WERE SUPPORTED BY THE MEDIA; HE WAS REGARDED AS A GENIUS AT PRESS RELATIONS AND WAS QUITE POPULAR. ONCE RIZZO BECAME MAYOR IN 1971, HOWEVER, THE PRESS TURNED AGAINST HIM FOR SEVERAL REASONS, INCLUDING RIZZO'S REACTION TO PUBLISHED REPORTS OF POLICE BRUTALITY, CHANGE OF THE INQUIRER'S OWNERSHIP, AND THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ATMOSPHERE CREATED BY THE WATERGATE INVESTIGATIONS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT POLICE BRUTALITY EXISTS, BUT THAT THE INQUIRER HAS TAKEN AN EXTREME VIEW IN REPORTING IT; THE TRUTH PROBABLY LIES IN BETWEEN. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)