As I write this article, I want you to know I’m not affiliated in any way with the media. I have been a police chief in four major cities and, in this capacity, my police department and I were often the focus of media attention. For over 20 years, I was consistently questioned by the press regarding officer-involved shootings, police officer misconduct and major crime problems.
During these years, I experienced frustrating times with reporters, but I never experienced what is currently being called “Fake News.” Probing for answers, the questions from reporters were periodically frustrating, but I never felt that reporters were trying to be dishonest or biased.