Dear Editor:
RE: Journalist says OPP officer detained him, seized camera, Dec. 28.
What in the hell is going on with the OPP? The officer who grabbed a reporter for doing his job should be charged with assault.
I was unfortunate enough to cover some ghastly accidents in my reporting years. I never liked that, but I did my best to do my job while not hindering fire, police and ambulance officials. Several times, police asked me to take specific photos for their investigations. So much for cooperating with the citizenry and media today.
I wonder how residents could be expected to offer tips to police or CrimeStoppers about the theft at Arthur Chrysler when police refused to name the victim. Were citizens supposed to use “The Force” or something?
As for the police reports these days, I generally don’t bother to read anymore. Who cares if a 29 -year-old Fergus man is charged? The Advertiser used to publish the names of drinking drivers and people who knew about them could contact the old, cooperative OPP, and let them know someone was still driving while under suspension. Not anymore.
Once upon a time, keeping the public informed and safe was Wellington OPP’s mandate. Now it seems to be hiding behind ridiculous “privacy” laws to protect the guilty – or at least, the charged.
Growing up in the 1950s, I remember my local newspaper printing not only the names of younger offenders, but also the names of their parents – plus their street address.
And some wonder why us old fogies want to go back (sometimes) to the good old days.
David Meyer,
Chatham
*Editor’s note: The OPP stopped providing the names of those charged with provincial offences in June of 2022, but it was the Advertiser’s decision (made the same month) to stop publishing the names of those charged with drinking and driving offences. The newspaper felt it was unfair to continue the practice since the OPP was not providing the names of everyone charged.