Press/Police

It is interesting that the ‘fake’ news and the ‘defund the’ police take the headlines every night.

They both do the same thing.

Both come into our neighborhoods and ask questions.

Some carry microphones and cameras while others wear uniforms and carry weapons.

They both appear after a crime. They both want to know who, what, where, when and why from bystanders.

One wants to report the events for the next edition. The other wants to find the perpetrator.

One can put up yellow tape and the other must just look on and ask questions.

One became necessary to dig for sleazy news and the other became militarized.

They both used to be well respected and welcomed into the neighborhood like the milkman or the mailman or the paperboy.

The police would tell us safety habits and guard us as we walked across the street and the press would record our sport scores.

Today everyone with a phone is a recorder but journalist must verify the facts. Social media presents events, real or fake, that shapes our opinions.

The flat foot on the beat has sheltered into cars but still respond to everything from a lost child to a murder.

When there is an event they both show up, but they have different task.

I like seeing them both but I ain’t answering any questions.