FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Waiting For Some Real Watchdog And Investigative Journalism

Yesterday, police officers all over the City of Cincinnati could hardly wait to read that story by Amber Hunt and Sharon Coolidge in the Liberal Agenda Fishwrap that asked the question everybody in Cincinnati had only been asking for the past six weeks:  (“Chief’s 90-day anti-violence plan: How’s it working?”) especially since the link on the web page asked “Was the 90-day plan ever implemented?”

Was this news item an example of that “Quality Journalism” our new Fishwrap editor and vice president of audience engagement Peter Bhatia claims to be fighting for? “My passion is watchdog and investigative journalism,” Bhatia proudly professed.  

Let’s see, Cincinnati’s Current Affirmative Action Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell aka “the Ghost” was at the White House claiming credit — for the umpteenth time — for “his” focus on community-oriented policing, something developed under the Collaborative Agreement and implemented by CPD from 2002 forward.  

Blackwell, as usual, had nothing to do with it, yet claims he’s in it to win. All the while, he disrespects his boss, the city manager, by contradicting him in the press and insisting that his amazing 90-day-plan is working. How are those 291 shootings so far this year — a 30% increase from last year — a success, Ghost?

One place the Ghost was definitely not seen this week was at the farewell reception at Price Hill Chili for Lt. Colonel Jim Whalen. Blackwell so disrespects the CPD personnel under his command that he didn’t bother to put in even a token appearance on his own assistant chief’s last day.

To Lt. Col. Whalen — thank you for your stellar service. You’re 100 times the chief Blackwell can never be. To Blackwell — get your ass busy doing something instead of praising yourself, start showing some respect to your people and to your boss, or get the hell back to Columbus!

Our new Fishwrap editor Peter Bhatia promised he’d continue to hold accountable civic, governmental, and educational institutions for the work they do on our behalf and will do so aggressively. Any time you’re ready, Peter, The Blower would certainly like to see an example.

More Real Watchdog and Investigative Journalism Later