** Calling On All Law Enforcement Agencies in the US **
As a 19 year career cop, I cannot remember a time when the mainstream news media has not misrepresented law enforcement interactions, especially when use of force was involved. Over the years, that misrepresentation has morphed from slightly misleading to intentionally inflammatory.
That sometimes accidental, often times intentional, misreporting of the incidents has done MUCH to fuel the anti-cop sentiment that is overflowing in some segments of our society.
It is my opinion that the intentional misrepresentation of the facts, especially in their reporting of law enforcement officer’s use of dead force, or alleged instances of police brutality, that has lead to the increase in completely unprovoked ambush attacks on us, the law enforcement officers in this country.
It is long past time for us, the Law Enforcement community across this nation, to do something to stem this tide. Just last night in Texas, Deputy Darren Goforth was ambushed and executed by a man as he stood pumping gas into his patrol car. Yet this morning, the Associated Press news story about and officer involved shooting in Las Vegas, where the suspect was armed, has a headline that reads “Las Vegas police shoot, kill man who ran from traffic stop.”
It is that sort of intentional misrepresentation of the facts that I am talking about. That right there fuels the anti-cop sentiment. That right there fuels the unstable, cop haters and drives them to ambush us.
It is time for us to STOP FEEDING the ENEMY!
I am calling on Police Chiefs and Sheriffs nationwide to officially stop providing information to news media outlets who are running those blatantly misleading news stories.
Until the media is willing to change their ways, they continue to not only to endanger us, the law enforcement officers nationwide, but they are endangering the entire country.
Please, if you are an administrator of a LE agency, please pass this on to the head of your agency. We need to start acting together to stop this irresponsible “journalism” before it gets us all killed.
-Matt
Clarification: Based on some of the comments on our Facebook page, it appears I may not have been clear in my original statement. I am not suggesting NOT talking to all the media. What I am suggesting is NOT talking the the media who intentionally edit what we tell them. We need to be selective in who we talk to.