Monday, November 2, 2009
Crime "My Partner’s Dead."
Posted by Dominic Holden on Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Jonah Spangenthal-Lee, formerly a reporter for The Stranger, has transcribed the radio call from Officer Britt Sweeney after her partner, Officer Timothy Brenton, was murdered Saturday night. Read it at SeattleCrime.com. "Now's not the time to put the audio up—nerves are still too raw, and the call is truly heartrendingly horrific," Jonah writes.
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2
The Stranger's decision to fire Jonah Spangenthal-Lee was as smart a move as the Village Voice's decision to fire Robert Christgau. Just sayin'.
3
Is there some reason he hasn't been rehired in the wake of that news editor turning the job down? Pride? Stupidity? Both?
4
The simplest answer/guess is he had a desire to have his own independent blog.
But thinking that deeply is haaaaaaard.
But thinking that deeply is haaaaaaard.
5
I wonder how many reported Slog posts Jonah put up in the last six months, hmmmm?
He was and is a siren-chaser.
He was and is a siren-chaser.
6
Good God, 1-5, have a little class!
That transcript alone is heart-rending and horrific. I'm glad they're holding off on posting the audio.
That transcript alone is heart-rending and horrific. I'm glad they're holding off on posting the audio.
9
I agree with @6-7, just reading it is pretty chilling. I don't like cops all that much, but I've always felt sorry for them that they are forced to deal with the absolute garbage of humanity on a daily basis and still need to function normally.
I just hope this all ends well.
I just hope this all ends well.
11
Well, had this been a black man shot by a cop, by "accident" on the same street corner I can assure you that any audio would happily been released by every media outlet in Seattle and the black man certianly would not have had the honor guard transporting the body to the funeral home.
Yeah, the cops have a tough job we all get it, and you know what else? They volunteered to take on that job. It wasn't by force. I'm sorry, I respect the police but sure as hell am not going to flog myself over this.
Yeah, the cops have a tough job we all get it, and you know what else? They volunteered to take on that job. It wasn't by force. I'm sorry, I respect the police but sure as hell am not going to flog myself over this.
12
@11: Did someone ask you to flog yourself? As far as I can tell, all that anyone's asking is that you show a bit of respect and common decency. Is that too much to ask of you?
13
@12
Why is it not respectful to post the audio?
No one would be forcing anyone else to listen to it, and it would allow us to verify the accuracy of the transcript - which at least one commenter on Jonah's blog calls into question.
If one does not want to listen to it, then one should not listen to it. Making it available so you have the choice to listen or not is not disrespectful or indecent.
The officers involved are entitled to, and I am sure will receive, counseling in order to be made whole. The counselors are perfectly capable of dealing with the aftermath of any news stories.
And, if and when there is a trial, the tape will certainly become relevant evidence. Is it too indecent or disrespectful for the Court to hear? I think not, and if not, then the people should have access as well.
The people of Washington chose to have the police record their activities so that they can be used to review the performance of the officers that serve and protect them, individually, and in aggregate.
There is nothing wrong whatsoever with the people using the information for that purpose, that is what it is there for.
Why is it not respectful to post the audio?
No one would be forcing anyone else to listen to it, and it would allow us to verify the accuracy of the transcript - which at least one commenter on Jonah's blog calls into question.
If one does not want to listen to it, then one should not listen to it. Making it available so you have the choice to listen or not is not disrespectful or indecent.
The officers involved are entitled to, and I am sure will receive, counseling in order to be made whole. The counselors are perfectly capable of dealing with the aftermath of any news stories.
And, if and when there is a trial, the tape will certainly become relevant evidence. Is it too indecent or disrespectful for the Court to hear? I think not, and if not, then the people should have access as well.
The people of Washington chose to have the police record their activities so that they can be used to review the performance of the officers that serve and protect them, individually, and in aggregate.
There is nothing wrong whatsoever with the people using the information for that purpose, that is what it is there for.
14
Jesus Christ @13 you are a total fucking moron of the highest degree. Nothing of substance will come of releasing any tape to the general public. NOTHING will bring that officer back to his community and family. No further details will be gleaned by releasing the actual emotional words behind the typewritten ones.
A community is in shock and mourning, and you do nothing but try to sound intelligent and logical, and somehow you fail miserably at both.
Releasing the actual tape would not serve the "people of Washington" in any manner, except for those looking to stir up more emotion and shit.
Go take a flying leap off the Aurora Bridge, and please tape yourself while doing so, so that we can all learn if you scream bloody murder on impact.
Moron.
A community is in shock and mourning, and you do nothing but try to sound intelligent and logical, and somehow you fail miserably at both.
Releasing the actual tape would not serve the "people of Washington" in any manner, except for those looking to stir up more emotion and shit.
Go take a flying leap off the Aurora Bridge, and please tape yourself while doing so, so that we can all learn if you scream bloody murder on impact.
Moron.
15
@ RC, did I tell you yet that I don't believe you were a LEO? If you really were, would you tell me what agency you were with, and how long? If not, will you tell me why not? (Since you brought it up, I won't accept a "none of your business" excuse, because if it was none of my business you shouldn't have mentioned it.)
17
@14 > Nothing of substance will come of releasing any tape to the general public.
Maybe maybe not.
But that doesn't matter. The tape is evidence in the trial, so it deserves to be public. Period. Or would you not allow it to be heard at trial either?
Maybe hearing it will spur someone who knows something to step forward.
Maybe hearing it will spur someone who might commit a ghastly act in the future to learn some compassion and forgo that act.
We can never know. But we can strive to use the tape for good purposes.
So your absolute claims are easily disproved and dismissed.
> NOTHING will bring that officer back to his community and family. No further details will be gleaned by releasing the actual emotional words behind the typewritten ones.
> No further details will be gleaned by releasing the actual emotional words behind the typewritten ones.
Yeah, because we all love to sit in front of a Kindle with our family and read a chapter together. No sense making a TV show or a movie for emotional attachment when we can simply read typed words on a page.
There are not eyes big enough to roll for what you deserve for your "logic".
> A community is in shock and mourning, and you do nothing but try to sound intelligent and logical, and somehow you fail miserably at both.
Yet you don't try either, you don't respond rationally and logical to show me where I am wrong. You only assert that I am and fall back on emotional rhetoric.
You know, cop tapes and videos are released all the time - there are countless thousands of reality tv shows that feature nothing but. Who knows what is plastered on youtube and elsewhere. What have you done to prevent the release of those?
But let one time the tape be raw and show a cop as vulnerable and you got to pieces, explaining that cop tapes have no value, that we are better off with transcripts.
Cops are happy to share tapes when they are the aggressors, but let there be one tape where they are not, and there is not one person among you that can think of a way to spin in in a positive fashion? Doesn't the union have any friends in marketing or PR?
> Releasing the actual tape would not serve the "people of Washington" in any manner, except for those looking to stir up more emotion and shit.
I don't know if it is different in Washington than California where I am, probably not in this regard, but our public records act is written so that the intent of the requester of public records may not be taken into account when deciding when and how to release it. If you know differently for WA, I'd appreciate a cite. Otherwise, what people may or may not do with the material is irrelevant - if some people care how others react, they will have to plan accordingly.
> Go take a flying leap off the Aurora Bridge, and please tape yourself while doing so, so that we can all learn if you scream bloody murder on impact.
That is very mature of you. Very rational and logical. Very impressive argument against allowing emotion into the public domain. Come back when you are all grown up please.
More...
Maybe maybe not.
But that doesn't matter. The tape is evidence in the trial, so it deserves to be public. Period. Or would you not allow it to be heard at trial either?
Maybe hearing it will spur someone who knows something to step forward.
Maybe hearing it will spur someone who might commit a ghastly act in the future to learn some compassion and forgo that act.
We can never know. But we can strive to use the tape for good purposes.
So your absolute claims are easily disproved and dismissed.
> NOTHING will bring that officer back to his community and family. No further details will be gleaned by releasing the actual emotional words behind the typewritten ones.
> No further details will be gleaned by releasing the actual emotional words behind the typewritten ones.
Yeah, because we all love to sit in front of a Kindle with our family and read a chapter together. No sense making a TV show or a movie for emotional attachment when we can simply read typed words on a page.
There are not eyes big enough to roll for what you deserve for your "logic".
> A community is in shock and mourning, and you do nothing but try to sound intelligent and logical, and somehow you fail miserably at both.
Yet you don't try either, you don't respond rationally and logical to show me where I am wrong. You only assert that I am and fall back on emotional rhetoric.
You know, cop tapes and videos are released all the time - there are countless thousands of reality tv shows that feature nothing but. Who knows what is plastered on youtube and elsewhere. What have you done to prevent the release of those?
But let one time the tape be raw and show a cop as vulnerable and you got to pieces, explaining that cop tapes have no value, that we are better off with transcripts.
Cops are happy to share tapes when they are the aggressors, but let there be one tape where they are not, and there is not one person among you that can think of a way to spin in in a positive fashion? Doesn't the union have any friends in marketing or PR?
> Releasing the actual tape would not serve the "people of Washington" in any manner, except for those looking to stir up more emotion and shit.
I don't know if it is different in Washington than California where I am, probably not in this regard, but our public records act is written so that the intent of the requester of public records may not be taken into account when deciding when and how to release it. If you know differently for WA, I'd appreciate a cite. Otherwise, what people may or may not do with the material is irrelevant - if some people care how others react, they will have to plan accordingly.
> Go take a flying leap off the Aurora Bridge, and please tape yourself while doing so, so that we can all learn if you scream bloody murder on impact.
That is very mature of you. Very rational and logical. Very impressive argument against allowing emotion into the public domain. Come back when you are all grown up please.
18
@17 technically you are correct; in Wasington state the Public Records Act (42.56 RCW) the intent of the requestor may not be taken into account when evaluating whether a record is subject to disclosure.
But I believe that RC's point is that for a news outlet (blog or msm0 that earns $ through viewership to post that audio has a salacious overtone that casts a broad shadow over any possible positive influence that may occur by making it readily accessible.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
But I believe that RC's point is that for a news outlet (blog or msm0 that earns $ through viewership to post that audio has a salacious overtone that casts a broad shadow over any possible positive influence that may occur by making it readily accessible.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
19
@18
> Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
Let me know if someone comes up with a reason why not. Haven't seen one yet.
The tape is going to be entered into evidence at trial.
Why the need for such secrecy?
I am sure sloggers would act and be appalled at policies preventing honest photos being taken and published in war zones, lack of permission to see caskets of dead military returning home and so forth.
The arguments in favor of those arguments are precisely the ones being made here to keep the tape secret.
Do you really want it both ways?
> Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
Let me know if someone comes up with a reason why not. Haven't seen one yet.
The tape is going to be entered into evidence at trial.
Why the need for such secrecy?
I am sure sloggers would act and be appalled at policies preventing honest photos being taken and published in war zones, lack of permission to see caskets of dead military returning home and so forth.
The arguments in favor of those arguments are precisely the ones being made here to keep the tape secret.
Do you really want it both ways?
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