A SCANNER MADE ME DO IT

A reader of my missive to the Cobourg Police Services Board yesterday suggested that “They can listen to a scanner.” Well, yes. They could. Let’s note the qualitative difference between two sentences.

(1) They can listen to a scanner
(2) They listened to a scanner

Sentence 1 is a diversionary tactic, often utilized by sleazy politicians, notably those caught in a scandal, Watergate, adscam, etc. In journalistic circles and triangles it is known as the non-denial denial. It is utilized by those who have contempt for the reader/listener that they assume to be too stupid and/or illiterate to notice.

Sentence 1 acts like a squirt of ink from a spineless octopus to conceal its escape. It is non-transparency. The news media extol themselves as watchdogs for the public interest and demand more transparency from assorted organs. They cite the strengthening of public trust that comes from transparency of organs that serve the public.

Sentence 2 is transparently assertive. It is presented as solid fact.

Yes, a scanner can be utilized by a private individual. It's a typical tool of ambulance chasers.

Was this the case in this particular instance? Let’s assume that this was the case and examine the photograph that resulted.

The photographer has his squawkbox tuned in to the Cobourg Police band. He is just pulling out of the Tim Hortons drive-thru when he hears that there is going to be a surprise takedown on Campbell Street. The story describes that marked police cars parked several houses away, presumably out of site of the individual to be taken down.

An unmarked car “swooped into the driveway” and out popped Sgt Mclean who ran towards the suspect. The photograph indicates that the photographer was well positioned to catch Sgt Mclean running.

The photographer must have arrived at the site a moment or two before the unmarked car “swooped into the driveway.” The photographer must have learned of the address of the surprise takedown while in transit. Arriving at the takedown site, the photographer had to park at an opportune site, which must have been selected prior to the unmarked car “swooping into the driveway.” Lots of snow around, so the photographer would have been unable to slam on the brakes for a full stop, so that would have added an extra second or two to the photographer to catch the scoop of the week photo-op.

Once the photographer came to a full stop, he would have taken his hands off the wheel, reached for the digital camera, pushed the button releasing the lens, then taken the photograph of Sgt Mclean in full flight after having just swooped into the driveway.

So how many seconds would it have taken from the moment that the unmarked police car swooped in, stopped, Sgt Mclean getting out, and running towards the suspect. Note that Sgt Mclean had not yet reached the suspect – he was a car length away.

It’s quite a stretch to believe that a photographer, that obtained the address on a scanner, could drive to that address, prior to the swooping unmarked car to arrive, come to an advantageous stop, prep his camera and take a photo of Sgt Mclean in full flight.

All of this assumes that the Cobourg Police Services (CPS) who are going to conduct a drug takedown utilizing unmarked cars would be stupid enough to broadcast the address on a police band radio. After all, CPS knows full well that biker gangs, drug gangs and other criminally-inclined people also can possess scanners – so concealment of a takedown is the order of the day for CPS.

Furthermore, CPS is not a Keystone Kops organization – they know enough to encrypt their communications when it comes to drug takedowns. Perhaps the photographer is in possession of a decoding device. Hardly.

It is more likely that someone within CPS betrayed their oath of office and leaked privileged information to a private individual who has no commitment to the public at large. That oath of office is taken to strengthen public trust – it is the public that pays for this service. It should not be the role of the news media to undermine this public trust – for what? A mere sensationalist scoop? Is that all it takes for a news organ to act unethically?