The Detroit Police on Wednesday announced the results of its sham investigation into an incident involving cops who shoved Fox 2's M.L. Elrick up against the wall to prevent him from asking Detroit City Council member George Cushingberry a question as he walked into a community meeting.
The Detroit Police concluded that a sergeant acted properly when he shoved Elrick up against the wall on Jan. 28. The report is a farce. Police essentially concluded that Elrick was blocking the entrance where Cushingberry was coming through, so they did what was necessary.
The first question is: Should the cops have been allowed to block Elrick from asking Cushingberry a question? Even if the answer is yes, the real question is: Did they use too much force?
Let me answer that.
First off, Cushingberry, who quickly became a distraction on the council with all his shenanigans, should be held accountable to the public. If not, let him step down from public office. The average citizen doesn't have access to such politicians.That's where the press comes in, representing the public's right to know.
Elrick had a right to walk up to Cushingberry and ask a question. Cushingberry is a public official. Cushingberry was at a public meeting. It wasn't as if he was trying to get into his home.
Secondly, Cushingberry simply could have told Elrick: "I have no comment" and then moved on. End of story. It happens all the time around the country. Reporters don't get slammed against the wall.
And even if the police felt they had the right to run interference for a public official, they had NO RIGHT to use excessive force.
The problem is this: At Detroit city hall, the press is the enemy. The press is evil, a mantra often repeated in nations like Syria, Saudi Arabia and North Korea where there are no First Amendment rights.
Somewhere along the lines, people have forgotten how city government has sometimes run amok, how city council members and a mayor have gone off to prison. And let's not forget the ex-Council President Charles Pugh who ran off like mobster Whitey Bulger and went into hiding because of a scandal involving a teen he was mentoring.
Frankly, a little more press scrutiny couldn't hurt.
The press, for better or worse, is a watchdog. And as we can see, from Detroit to Washington, politicians need to be watched.
To treat the press as criminals is criminal.
And to issue a report saying it's OK to physically assault the press . . . well, that's not OK.
The police department and the city should be ashamed.
Related coverage at Deadline Detroit:
Police Inquiry Supports Force Used Against Elrick At Cushingberry Event
