May 27, 2004
Cincinnati City Council objects, says Cops has to leave
Cameras for Cops stopped rolling in Cincinnati this afternoon, after members of the Queen City's city council objected over what the show might depict.
The Saturday night Fox staple is finishing it's 15th season on the air. It shows real-life police officers from around the nation during "ride-alongs," so viewers can see what the officers see.
The crew began filming Tuesday, and today, Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher "changed his mind" about allowing the crew to continue filming.
Streicher's decision came after Wednesday's City Council meeting, during which council members Alicia Reece, Christopher Smitherman and Pat DeWine expressed concern about the filming, which they feared would portray the city poorly. Reece said a show that "sensationalizes" crime could hurt the city's ability to attract tourists and businesses.Sounds like the council is afraid of the rest of the nation seeing the truth about Cincinnati -- whatever that "truth" might be. Posted by mhking at May 27, 2004 08:26 PMThey also said they were concerned city council was not consulted or were not able to provide input on Streicher's invitation to the show to film his officers.
You know, this is very stupid. I don't live too far from Cincinnati, I would love to see what goes on there w/ cops :).
Posted by: MJG at May 27, 2004 08:53 PMHeaven forfend America should discover that there are <gasp!> crimes committed in Cincinnati!
Posted by: McGehee at May 27, 2004 08:54 PMI would think when your two most famous hometown heroes are Jerry Springer and Marge Schott, you'd give anything to paint a different picture. Oh well, I'm sure this will set off another riot....er.....round of civil disobedience.
Posted by: Rabbit at May 28, 2004 08:42 AM"Heaven forfend America should discover that there are crimes committed in Cincinnati!"
Took the words right out of my mouth!
Posted by: Stone at May 28, 2004 09:05 AMI live just north of Cincinnati...
The city had a real opportunity to express confidence in their police department and failed to do so. That is sad. The fact that the criticism comes from the Vice Mayor and two other city council-people makes it sting twice as much, I'm sure.
We have to support the Thin Blue Line...they are all that seperates us from lawlessness and chaos.
Posted by: Matt Hurley at May 28, 2004 01:08 PMThe stories I could tell....but, not now.
I was born and raised in Cincinnati and have spent the last four years in the midst of all the unrest as a full time limo driver. I have watched it all.
Heather McDonald ( City Journal - A Google should bring her pieces up) writes some of the best pieces I've read on the riots and the general attack on the police dept. I have never been a fan of cops, but I am now. They have been railroaded in this town. I have witnessed first hand the endless harassment by "activists" trailing after foot patrols with a camcorder, interfering in arrests, harassing concert goers. The incidents are endless and incremental and slowly add up till you are quite unwilling to give any damn body the benefit of a doubt.
I know damn well legitimate grievances and inequities exist in this city, as in all cities, but I also know the progress I was witnessing as I grew up and the American culture grew richer with black voices and faces in every walk of life. Or so I thought. Progress, miserably slow perhaps, but we were getting somewhere.
Now? Now there is palpable tension, overt hostility, and me, I'll have none of it. Have no patience for the PC. Bound to get my ass shot some night because I won't play the game.
And the thing is, it isn't even a race thing. It's an ideology. It is part of the malaise stalking America dressed in many '-isms'. It's when none of us stand tall in the gifts the human race is graced with, but walk shackled with all the lies we've bought that says we are all a race of lesser beings.
Good didn't make no lesser beings. We did.
I am heartbroken over what has evolved here.