"The requests come in on a daily basis," said Monique Bond, spokesman for the Chicago Police Department. "It takes valuable resources off a street. Police really don't have time to escort a production crew or [let it] film our work."
The department's position, which some cynics attribute to a distaste of prying eyes, is a philosophical one, Bond said.
"Law enforcement is not entertainment, and crime is no joking matter," she said.
Which reason do you agree with and why?
2007-02-14 15:33:32 · 9 answers · asked by serial gummybear connoisseur 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I think it is perfectly reasonable to reject the request to have a COPS episode filmed in your city. The city I live in has had requests also, and have turned them down. The department here hires a lot of lateral Officers (Officers from other departments) and many have come from cities where COPS has been filmed. Cities like Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and Houston. None of the Officers had a positive word to say about the experience.
According to them, the problem is that the COPS crew sends out about a half dozen cameramen and sound engineers to ride with Officers for several weeks. This alone is a huge distraction to the Officer that has these crew members riding with them. Also, the witnesses to crimes who are intimidated by the cameras tend to refuse to give any information about crimes that just occurrred, and criminals tend to get more violent with Officers in front of the cameras. Apparently, it is the same phenomenon as the perpetrators of high speed chases in places like Los Angeles. Those people wave to the news helicopters and try to show off for the media. The same goes for suspects in front of COPS cameras. Maybe it doesn't happen with every one of them, but once is too many. When you put Officers and other innocent bystanders in danger to film a television show, it doesn't seem worth it. Police departments have every right to refuse the offers, and shouldn't be judged for doing so. If departments were so worried about "prying eyes" then they wouldn't allow civilian ride-a-longs, and I have yet to hear of a Police department that does not allow them.
2007-02-14 15:51:50 · answer #1 · answered by dh1977 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
COPS is ONLY entertainment. COPS is not some government- appointed "watch" group. It's just a television show.
They wanted to come to San Antonio a few years back, but they got turned away here, too. I agree with Ms. Bond. You want entertainment? Watch TV. I personally like the Monk shows and Reno 911.
You want reality TV? Take your pick. The airwaves already reek with reality TV.
You want safe streets? Let the police do their work.
2007-02-14 18:38:16 · answer #2 · answered by scruffycat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To "stop_the_klan"... if you are so damn concerned with how the police function and how they are spending your tax dollars then become one and quit your bitching. You think you can do my job, then step up! Because everybody who has told me that has never taken me up on my offer to apply. I am so tired of hearing about tax dollars and how that somehow gives you a right to tell me what to do or how you want something done. YOUR tax dollars prolly pay about .001% of my salary or dept. budget or really not enough for me to really care about.
COPS is bad news, they are media and have a tendency to show what looks good which can take events out of context. That is the problem with all video in law enforcement. Video misses a lot and can be showed in an effort to sway the viewer.
2007-02-14 19:53:42 · answer #3 · answered by Breacher 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"It takes valuable resources off a street. Police really don't have time to escort a production crew or [let it] film our work."
I think this is the best justification to deny access. I would hate to think that a police officer was performing for a camera, or was so worried about what the camera was showing he/she couldn't properly do their job.
2007-02-22 06:08:48 · answer #4 · answered by Kbear 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the idea that I pay taxes. That is my money. I have the right to see how it is spent. If the police are worried about a video they have no control over too bad. They should be concerned about being professionals and not caring either way who is watching.
2007-02-14 17:19:23 · answer #5 · answered by Stop_the_Klan@yahoo.com 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
we had that happen in albuquerque. but it was because the mayor was worried that it was ruining the national Image of our city. COPS kept coming back here. in other words there are so many messed up people here that COPS loved us, and he got a little antsy from that.
2007-02-14 18:04:04 · answer #6 · answered by michelle342 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are thousands of other police departments, and even state and federal agencies that "cops" could use, and many who will love to do it.
2007-02-14 15:44:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's a waste of law enforcement man hours and sometimes instructional for other criminals
2007-02-14 15:43:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because shows like Cops are doing a better job than they are.
2007-02-14 15:41:21 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 8⤋