On Sunday, the Chronicle ran a story about a decline in police shootings during 2004, in Harris County. The newspaper also took the opportunity to give itself a hearty pat on the back:
Activists and police leaders say the decline is due to policy changes, increased public awareness, the recent acquisition of Taser stun guns by several departments and the Houston Chronicle’s midyear investigative reports on the issue.
Except that the article doesn’t include a quote from a police leader or any pro-police activists that specifically attribute the decrease to the Chronicle‘s mid year report. So, we are left to assume that the praise for the Chronicle‘s role in the decline comes from the ACLU and LULAC activists quoted in yesterday’s story, which means the paragraph was poorly worded. This KHOU-11 story has what would seem to be a more accurate wording:
Law enforcement agencies say these statistics are no accident. They are the result of strict policies and technology enabling officers to make safer choices.
The AP has picked up the Chronicle article and it is now making the rounds of media outlets, with the Chronicle-kudos included:
Police department leaders and activists say the decline is due to policy changes, increased public awareness, the acquisition of Taser stun guns and a Chronicle midyear report on the issue.
The links for the Chronicle‘s investigative police shooting report, which ran last July, are here and here. It’s important to note that law enforcement agencies often fall into the Chronicle “bad guy” category.
Last July, Hans Marticiuc, president of the Houston Police Officers Union, responded to the Chronicle‘s special report with this column:
When we first heard that the Chronicle was running series of articles this past weekend looking at incidents where Harris County and Houston suspects were shot by local police officers, many of us dared to hope that our hometown newspaper would take a balanced look into perhaps the most troubling issue every HPD member confronts each morning they put on their uniform and try to maintain the public safety in an increasingly dangerous world.
After all, no law enforcement officer goes to work hoping today is the day he or she can draw their weapon. No officer looks forward to placing themselves, or others, in harm’s way. Moreover, everyone involved in an accidental shooting
