Dose The Greenwich Citizen Publisher Support Using A Taser In Public Schools As A Behaviour Management Tool?
Why do Greenwich Citizen Readers have to get the Greenwich Post and Greenwich Time to learn what is really going on in Greenwich.
Is the Greenwich audience unable to appreciate quality journalism?
There, there. Have the "so-called" journalists at the Greenwich Citizen failed the people?
At the Greenwich Citizen, "news stories" are often press released-centred explanations of what is going on in town, and these establishment press releases are the tail that wags the dog.
All too often, the Greenwich Citizen over looks the disenfranchised, poorer, weaker, and younger members of Greenwich Society, because they don't send out press releases.
Some people in town are wondering why the police use of a taser on a mouthy - water - balloon - throwing Greenwich High School teenager, who weighed just 140 pounds, was not newsworthy at the Greenwich Citizen.
Others in town wonder if the Greenwich Citizen would find it news worthy if the Greenwich Police Department went into Eastern Middle School and tased a hyper 85 pound seventh grader.
Would the Greenwich Citizen even notice if the Greenwich Police went into a nursery school and tasered an unruly pre-schooler?
Maybe, the Greenwich Citizen might cover one of these news stories if the students would write the story up and fax it in as a press release.
Does any one remember the Greenwich Citizen ever doing an investigative report?
Please See:
05/22/08 - Lost In Cyber Space: Greenwich Citizen Ignores GHS Tasing Controversey For Nine Days. Greenwich Citizen Readers Don't Know What's Going On...
05/19/08 - Beat The Press - The Greenwich Citizen has it's head in the sand
UPDATE:
Now That The Greenwich Post Has Been
Caught With It's Pants Down, There Is A
Last Minute Attempt To Cover Their A**.
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After much pressure the Greenwich Citizen finally did post a news story about the High School Tasing Incident.
The story is not on the home page: http://www.greenwichcitizen.com/
However, if you navigate to the local news page at: http://www.greenwichcitizen.com/localnews
Then read through all of the five news links with brief descriptions you will find a small line at the bottom that says:
More Local/Regional Headlines:
If you can find this link, you will clearly see that it is a half hearted attempt looks likes a half hearted attempt by the Greenwich Citizen to save face.
Clearly, the Greenwich Citizen Publisher and Editor is ashamed of their initial failure to cover this important news story, and they should be ashamed.
For over a week The Associated Press, Bloggers, Cablevision News 12, The Greenwich Post, The Greenwich Time, The Hartford Courant, The Fairfeild County Weekly, The Stamford Advocate and many others immediately found the story news worthy.
In fact, just about every local and regional media outlet covered the High School taser controversey except for the Greenwich Citizen and the free Penny Saver ad paper that comes in Greenwich mail boxes.
However, the Greenwich Citizen had to be shamed into covering the story and that is why the Greenwich Citizen was the only news outlet that buried the story on their website. All of the other blogger, cable and newspaper websites had the story up front on their home page.
Worse yet, when you read the hastily prepared Greenwich Citizen Article only Greenwich Police Captain Pacewicz is quoted. There is no reported attempt to contact Greenwich High School administrators, Greenwich High School students, parents, teachers, the boy that was tased or his attorney or anyone else for that matter.
This is not a news story it is a Greenwich Police Department Press Release. Please read the story with our comments and judge for yourself.
Police Say Tasing Incident at High School Justified
By Laura CarlsonArticle Last Updated: 05/23/2008 01:01:02 PM EDT
Laura Carlson writes:
The tasing incident at Greenwich High School on May 13 has sparked controversy in the realm of student safety.
While misinterpreted information has caused parents to grow skeptical of the type and extent of enforcement administered in the student's surroundings, it is important to understand why the police remain justified in their actions, Capt. Michael Pacewicz of the Greenwich Police Department said during a press conference Tuesday.
The student in question, senior Victor Hugo Londono, 18, was told to report to the school's administrative office after throwing water balloons in the campus student center, police said. When Londono's behavior elevated to a level of disorderly conduct, police interference was deemed necessary by the four administrators who were present at the scene of the arrest.
(Comment: source needed for this statement could it be Captain Pacewicz?)
"His arrest was not due in part to his violation of student center rules, but to his interference and aggression toward the officers after the incident occurred," said Pacewicz.
Once Londono was told to leave the student center to file for his suspension, he refused to be removed and even kicked a chair into another student's chair upon leaving, noted School Resource Officer Carlos A. Franco.
Londono had to be escorted to the administrative offices, and upon arrival, Pacewicz recalled, he became vocally offensive and threatening toward the officers. Pacewicz noted that once he refused to place his hands behind his back for arrest, his actions became a criminal issue rather than a school conflict. Londono remained unrelenting to authority rule, even after Franco's many warnings of using the stun gun if he failed to comply with orders. Londono continued flailing his arms and making threatening remarks, even after warnings were given, stated Pacewicz. Franco used the drive stun mode of his X26, the least intrusive mode that would motivate Londono to obey. It took three shocks that were less than a second duration each; one to his shoulder, the next his mid-section and the last to his thigh, for the stun gun to make contact and for Londono to place his hands behind his back. (Comment: source needed for this statement could it once again be Captain Pacewicz? Is the so-called "Greenwich Citizen Journalist" Laura Carlson being led around with a police department nose ring?) GHS students are aware of student center rules, as they are addressed on the first day of school, written in the student's daily planners and even posted on the wall of the student center where the incident occurred. (Comment: once again source needed for this statement could it once again be Captain Pacewicz? Is this a news article or is Laura Carlson helping Captain Pacewicz write a letter to the editor?) While last Tuesday was the first time a taser was used on a student, the introduction of the stun gun has had its benefits, stated Pacewicz. The taser has been used 31 times, of which 14 were only displaying the gun without usage before a suspect would comply. Franco has carried this stun gun in the school since 2004, and it was understood by the administration that Franco used the least amount of force necessary for a response, said Pacewicz. Londono was released on a $50,000 cash bond and told to appear in Stamford Superior Court on May 21. Where in the hell did the "so-called" Greenwich Citizen journalist Laura Carlson go to school to learn to be a journalist? Greenwich Citizen readers should be sceptical of Greenwich Citizen articles in General and Laura Carlson's articles in particular.
Here are this weeks press release generated stories at the Greenwich Citizen:
In New Role, Former School Boss Talks About Race
Wearing a different hat, Dr. Larry Leverett, Greenwich's former and first black school superintendent, by invitation discoursed Sunday morning on race and education during a "sacred conversation" at the Second Congregational Church.
Congress Aims to Help Consumers at Gas Pump
President George W. Bush continued to play dead this week when it came to throwing a lifeline to millions of consumers suffering from fiscal strangulation as gasoline prices rocket past $4-a-gallon...
Ham Ave. Girls Told to Follow Their Passions to Success
Women have yet to break the highest glass ceiling in the land - the presidency - but from the witness of a host of women achievers last Wednesday, there's been an impressive shattering of glass, primarily by Superintendent of Schools...
Honoring Greenwich's Rich Architectural History
Framed photographs of stately residences dotted the elegant rooms in the equally grand Greenwich home.
GHS Crew: Cut Above the Rest
Greenwich High's crew program rowed into the record-book last weekend, claiming first-time state championships for both the girls and boys varsity.
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