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kpete

(71,994 posts)
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 10:17 AM Mar 2012

Sanford police threaten to arrest reporters

Source: Miami Herald

Sanford police threaten to arrest reporters

BY MONIQUE O. MADAN
MMADAN@MIAMIHERALD.COM
Sanford Police threatened to arrest members of the media who approach or ask questions off the clock.

A press release sent out Wednesday said police would arrest journalists who attempt to make contact with city employees during non-working hours. They asked to not approach, call or email the city employees at home.

Some city staffers have been "followed or approached at their home or in settings outside of working hours," the release said.

"Law enforcement officials will not hesitate to make an arrest for stalking."



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/29/2720590/sanford-police-threaten-to-arrest.html#storylink=cpy

37 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Sanford police threaten to arrest reporters (Original Post) kpete Mar 2012 OP
That will help restore confidence in the Sanford police department. /sarcasm yardwork Mar 2012 #1
You gotta set priorities. Kill someone? No arrest. Question the police? GO TO JAIL. tclambert Mar 2012 #27
Stalking? Renew Deal Mar 2012 #2
I'd like to see the Justice Department pull every one of the Sanford cops in for questioning auburngrad82 Mar 2012 #3
Are they out of their ever loving minds? MADem Mar 2012 #4
So does this mean that... ... bayareaboy Mar 2012 #5
Just when you think thing can't get any weirder. daleanime Mar 2012 #6
Thats what happens when Andy leaves Barney in charge.. Historic NY Mar 2012 #7
Nahh, Barney learned his lessons, this is that dumbass Warren's fault CBGLuthier Mar 2012 #28
"Law enforcement officials will not hesitate to make an arrest for stalking." niyad Mar 2012 #8
you're not in America anymore Enrique Mar 2012 #9
Sanford Police: gated community state of mind. FailureToCommunicate Mar 2012 #10
Nice to see them taking stalking so seriously. Will they do the same for murder? CreekDog Mar 2012 #11
What was the armed self appointed "watchman" Zimmerman doing xtraxritical Mar 2012 #19
Related Prior Post ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2012 #12
If this were a work of fiction no one would believe it just too incredible. gordianot Mar 2012 #13
True stories are the weirdest. In fiction you have to try to keep it believable. tclambert Mar 2012 #31
I think the press should stand it's ground if it feels threatened. bluedigger Mar 2012 #14
the press ought to go and do just that, if there's a cover up pressure ought to reveal some of it leftyohiolib Mar 2012 #15
Yes, and they should dress like they look prepared to - 10x as many of them as there are police. saras Mar 2012 #20
Sooooooo, the Sanford PD won't hesitate to arrest a journalist "stalker" peace frog Mar 2012 #16
They'll arrest reporters for stalking and talking, but not people who stalk and kill?! polichick Mar 2012 #17
Stalking?! abelenkpe Mar 2012 #18
It's perfectly obvious why the whole department is being investigated... saras Mar 2012 #21
Sooooooooo no arrest for murder, but they will arrest for "stalking"... truebrit71 Mar 2012 #22
I think they're confusing reporters with a guy named Zimmerman longship Mar 2012 #23
So they want to arrest reporters for asking questions when an official avebury Mar 2012 #24
Had a rental property in Sanford for a short time GoneOffShore Mar 2012 #25
...as ordered by Wayne LaPierre. nt onehandle Mar 2012 #26
This will not end well for the sanford PD. Javaman Mar 2012 #29
I think it's time for an Occupy Sanford Great Caesars Ghost Mar 2012 #30
These pigs are a fucking JOKE!!! Odin2005 Mar 2012 #32
More Florida Police Work DallasNE Mar 2012 #33
OK, Holder. Put down the marijuana search warrant and start swinging a big stick in Sanford DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2012 #34
a.frikin.men! Duppers Mar 2012 #37
Wait, didn't zimmy follow and stalk trayvon BEFORE he murdered him? Yet, he's still Ecumenist Mar 2012 #35
Why didn't they arrest George Zimmermna for stalking Trayvon Martin? Dont call me Shirley Mar 2012 #36

tclambert

(11,086 posts)
27. You gotta set priorities. Kill someone? No arrest. Question the police? GO TO JAIL.
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 12:36 PM
Mar 2012

Imagine the effrontery of reporters asking questions!

Of course, those off-duty armed police officers have the right to "stand their ground" if they feel threatened . . .

Renew Deal

(81,859 posts)
2. Stalking?
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 10:21 AM
Mar 2012


Is the Sanford police department trying to officially become a joke? I know that some think they have already done so.

auburngrad82

(5,029 posts)
3. I'd like to see the Justice Department pull every one of the Sanford cops in for questioning
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 10:24 AM
Mar 2012

They seem to feel untouchable.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
4. Are they out of their ever loving minds?
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 10:26 AM
Mar 2012

They've never heard of freedom of the press?

People are adults--they can say "no comment"--they don't need the police making a decision as to whether they want to talk to the press for them.

This is incredible and smells like a MASSIVE cover-up. They are afraid someone will "squeal" so they are trying to prevent contact. They also don't know their own laws, the idiots:

However, the Florida statute on stalking does not include language that would provide special protection to city officials or prevent media from asking questions.

Sanford police did not immediately return any calls Wednesday and Thursday morning.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/29/2720590/sanford-police-threaten-to-arrest.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

bayareaboy

(793 posts)
5. So does this mean that... ...
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 10:28 AM
Mar 2012

That I can in Sanford, arrest someone who asks me a question? Or perhaps a Police Officer who wants to ask me about anything?

I am not on the clock now, please come back, when I want entertainment.

niyad

(113,318 posts)
8. "Law enforcement officials will not hesitate to make an arrest for stalking."
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 10:30 AM
Mar 2012

but they cannot be bothered making an arrest in a killing, or even doing an investigation, apparently.

 

xtraxritical

(3,576 posts)
19. What was the armed self appointed "watchman" Zimmerman doing
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 11:22 AM
Mar 2012

when he followed Treyvon Martin? This town makes Mayberry look cosmopolitan!

tclambert

(11,086 posts)
31. True stories are the weirdest. In fiction you have to try to keep it believable.
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 01:10 PM
Mar 2012

Corporate memos even get pretty weird. You know somewhere in the archives of the White Star Lines there's a memo that says something to the effect of:

"Although the company has experienced something of Public Relations problem due to the recent incident with the RMS Titanic, we believe all in all the Titannic II project should continue moving forward, though it might be wise to rename the new ship something akin to Britannic."

The Britannic sank in 1916. It struck a mine or got torpedoed during World War I, and sank faster than the Titanic. It developed a list to starboard that made it impossible to launch all the lifeboats. Fortunately, the water was warm (it sank in the Mediterranean ), and only 30 died, mostly from injuries when two lifeboats got chopped up by the giant propellers.

Sorry, I got a little sidetracked there.

 

leftyohiolib

(5,917 posts)
15. the press ought to go and do just that, if there's a cover up pressure ought to reveal some of it
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 11:05 AM
Mar 2012

im finding myself having less and less respect for our "police".

 

saras

(6,670 posts)
20. Yes, and they should dress like they look prepared to - 10x as many of them as there are police.
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 11:24 AM
Mar 2012

peace frog

(5,609 posts)
16. Sooooooo, the Sanford PD won't hesitate to arrest a journalist "stalker"
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 11:09 AM
Mar 2012

but arrest the adult murderer of a child walking through the neighborhood to his home - of course not.

I'm hoping for a scathingly thorough investigation of these bozos by the FBI and DOJ that results in heads rolling from high to low.

avebury

(10,952 posts)
24. So they want to arrest reporters for asking questions when an official
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 11:43 AM
Mar 2012

is off work and then put the reporter in the middle of the police department where they will continue to ask questions. Man they did not think that one through.

Edited it to add - It would be interesting to have a reported with hidden electronic devices to get video/audio of the entire process.

GoneOffShore

(17,339 posts)
25. Had a rental property in Sanford for a short time
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 11:58 AM
Mar 2012

Inherited it from my parents, who had wanted to live there - We sold it as quickly as possible.

I'm glad I did. Because if I lived there I'd have been arrested more times than a few by now. Taking photos of the cops, video's of council meetings and anything else to document the crazy that is Sanford, Florida.

 

DisgustipatedinCA

(12,530 posts)
34. OK, Holder. Put down the marijuana search warrant and start swinging a big stick in Sanford
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 03:00 PM
Mar 2012

These backwards corrupt fucks are the real story--Zimmerman is just another murdering thug who needs to be put away for life. But it sounds to me like there needs to be a DEEP and invasive federal investigation of this police deparment, and the city government of Sanford. Depositions, search warrants, uncomfortable questions, looking into ZimDad's history, everything.

Meantime, go learn something about the first amendment, Sanford PD.

Ecumenist

(6,086 posts)
35. Wait, didn't zimmy follow and stalk trayvon BEFORE he murdered him? Yet, he's still
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 06:00 PM
Mar 2012

walking around free. He was approached on his way home. I wonder if they notice the irony?

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