Just when you think the local news stations can’t stoop any lower…

Some tragic events unfolded today in the Phoenix area.  A suspected bank robber fleeing from police on a high-speed chase Wednesday afternoon committed suicide when he realized he couldn’t shake the police off his tail.  He slammed head-on into another car, killing both himself and the other driver.  As is the norm these days, the local news helicopters followed the car chase and aired it live on TV.

When the accident occurred, there was no way for the television stations to edit out the gruesomeness of the car crash itself because they were broadcasting live.  However by the time of the evening news, the television news crews had to make the decision on whether or not to air the footage.  The question was whether it was appropriate to show the fatal accident on the air. 

Call me old-fashioned, but I can remember when there was never even a question about it; the footage was not aired.  It was a simple matter of decency and respect to the innocent victim’s family to not subject them to the disturbing clip of their loved one being killed.  I’m not 100% sure, but I think that all the stations showed parts of the chase but cut out the crash itself.  That is perfectly acceptable.  They covered the story without having to show the collision.

The channel Buckaroo was watching tonight however took the time to pat themselves on the back on their decision not to air the actual moments of the fatal crash.  Fine.  A bit tacky, but I can live with that.  It was when they announced that people could go to their website to see the full footage that I became completed disgusted.  They were using this tragedy as an opportunity to promote their website?  That’s beyond tacky.

That’s despicable.
 
 
P.S.  I should note that the news stations are now swarming with stories criticizing the cops involved for how they handled the chase.  The cops are now the ones that are guilty while the suicidal bank robber is let off the hook?  That doesn’t seem right, but it’s typical for the news media.