At noon today we went a bit long on our 1590 WAKR newscast, putting Gov. Mike Huckabee's fill-in for Paul Harvey on delay for six minutes in order to present the full 5:14 audio from the shooting of Officer Joshua Miktarian. Today's noon newscast is the only time we will broadcast the full audio, although the news department will use excerpts during other newscasts on our stations today and tomorrow. It is not graphic but it is disturbing, and some will question why it is necessary.
Here's why we decided to air the dispatch audio.
Tape from the dispatcher's radio log is important not only to show the tenor of what seemed to be a routine traffic stop but also to provide listeners and web visitors more information on this case. There's been quite a bit of talk after the lawyer for the suspect raised self-defense as a possible issue. The dispatch audio doesn't provide answers to exactly what occurred after Miktarian stopped Ashford Thompson for playing loud music and suspicion of driving under the influence, but it does provide a greater sense of timeline in the split-seconds between Miktarian's communication with emergency dispatchers on what should have been routine and the tragedy that followed.
The audio is powerful; some will find it disturbing. Fellow officers race to the scene with sirens clearly heard in the background. The dispatcher and then first police responders to the scene just minutes afterward call out for Miktarian, identified as "45", then note a caller reported hearing an argument and "pops." The discovery of Miktarian alongside his cruiser and radio traffic of "officer down" complete the audio.
There have been many occasions for public debate on the use of 9-1-1 and dispatch audio; currently in Ohio this audio, for the most part, is considered public record. There is little doubt that this audio will be something family and friends of Officer Miktarian will not want to hear, and for that we are truly sorry. However, we feel there is also a compelling reason to air the radio traffic as the public interest in understanding this case, the danger involved every time an officer approaches a vehicle, and the split-seconds between routine and tragic.
Truth isn't found in just a written transcript; it is one reason why law enforcement recognizes the need for audio and video recording including radio dispatch traffic and even dash-cams. Understanding just what happened early Sunday morning, or for that matter in any such case, is more than seeing words on paper. It is important to see and hear with our own eyes and ears, tools we all use to determine truth for ourselves rather than filtered through an "official" version. When the picture (and sound) are given we can trust ourselves to determine truth; all of the senses are important.
The public -- we -- have an investment in how our government responds to our needs, including law enforcement. Acting in the open is often a messy business but in the end the debate makes us stronger by making sure all voices have a chance to be heard. There are many common sense exceptions to what becomes public information, such as protecting children or even our personal medical records but in the cases where our faith in law enforcement is at stake seeing and hearing is believing.
Here's why we decided to air the dispatch audio.
Tape from the dispatcher's radio log is important not only to show the tenor of what seemed to be a routine traffic stop but also to provide listeners and web visitors more information on this case. There's been quite a bit of talk after the lawyer for the suspect raised self-defense as a possible issue. The dispatch audio doesn't provide answers to exactly what occurred after Miktarian stopped Ashford Thompson for playing loud music and suspicion of driving under the influence, but it does provide a greater sense of timeline in the split-seconds between Miktarian's communication with emergency dispatchers on what should have been routine and the tragedy that followed.The audio is powerful; some will find it disturbing. Fellow officers race to the scene with sirens clearly heard in the background. The dispatcher and then first police responders to the scene just minutes afterward call out for Miktarian, identified as "45", then note a caller reported hearing an argument and "pops." The discovery of Miktarian alongside his cruiser and radio traffic of "officer down" complete the audio.
There have been many occasions for public debate on the use of 9-1-1 and dispatch audio; currently in Ohio this audio, for the most part, is considered public record. There is little doubt that this audio will be something family and friends of Officer Miktarian will not want to hear, and for that we are truly sorry. However, we feel there is also a compelling reason to air the radio traffic as the public interest in understanding this case, the danger involved every time an officer approaches a vehicle, and the split-seconds between routine and tragic.
Truth isn't found in just a written transcript; it is one reason why law enforcement recognizes the need for audio and video recording including radio dispatch traffic and even dash-cams. Understanding just what happened early Sunday morning, or for that matter in any such case, is more than seeing words on paper. It is important to see and hear with our own eyes and ears, tools we all use to determine truth for ourselves rather than filtered through an "official" version. When the picture (and sound) are given we can trust ourselves to determine truth; all of the senses are important.
The public -- we -- have an investment in how our government responds to our needs, including law enforcement. Acting in the open is often a messy business but in the end the debate makes us stronger by making sure all voices have a chance to be heard. There are many common sense exceptions to what becomes public information, such as protecting children or even our personal medical records but in the cases where our faith in law enforcement is at stake seeing and hearing is believing.
started to listen to it but couldnt finish it.
ReplyDelete