NJ Press Photographer Arrested While Taking Fire Scene Photos

[X2321 133]

I guess it would be better if you just let your children play in the playground with the tainted soil. Did the reporter cross police tape to obtain the soil sample. It sounds like a cover up by the school district, but lets blame the media for trying to do their job and expose this potential hazard. Your comment about the " trained camera equipped fire chasers" being slanted towards the media just shows how little you know about the people you were referring to. Anyone that knows myself or BFD2553 knows that we would put down our cameras in a second to help a brother firefighter at a scene, weather it be changing a bottle, helping to pull hose or even giving some oxygen.

[helicopper 1,050]

I honestly do not know if the PPD & the Herald have bad blood between them... Heres another reporter "just doing his job". I might add that this reporter is from the same parent company as the arrested photographer.

Gartland was arrested along with a worker for an environmental testing firm and charged with trespassing after they went to the public middle school to collect soil for an independent analysis.

Misdemeanor trespassing charges are still pending against Gartland, the testing company worker, and a Record photographer who accompanied them.

Reading through the replies it does seem that a few "trained, camera equipped" fire-chasers are slightly slanted towards the media. As JCESU and others stated the facts are clear. The yellow line was drawn, she chose to disobey a lawful order. Therefore she should have the cuffs slapped on her, even if its blocks from the fire scene. Facts are facts, lines are lines, and laws are laws. Theres no other way to look at it.

"Just doing his job"? Since when does just doing your job allow you to break the law? The charge is trespass - meaning that the reporter entered someone else's property (in this case the school district) without permission. How would you like it if the press entered your home or business without permission? The school district is well within its rights to have the trespassers prosecuted regardless of who they may be or why they were there.

These are two cases of reporters breaking the law (obstructing and trespassing, respectively) in the furtherance of their news gathering. Contrary to what you may think from my posts in this thread, I'm all for the media doing their job but they can't break the law to do it. The first amendment does not give the press the authority to break any laws in the exercise of their trade.

There is a common ground - there are countless reporters and photographers out there doing their jobs without being arrested - and in most places there is a rapport between the media and the police so I would have to say these are isolated incidents.

Very well put. I have a question for you and Chris192 about the media. What if the dept had an appointed Public Information Officer, and they had a good working relationship with the local press. Could the PI Officer escort the press over the line, let them take pictures and ask a few questions, than escort them back? I would think that the PI officer would be a great assett ( sorry spelling) to any dept, Fire police or EMS, so that they can coordinate the press at large scale events and the press can still do their jobs.

Moose, sure this can be done and they don't even have to be the PIO. The IC can have ANYONE escort the media in and out of the scene to facilitate their newsgathering. The key is not to challenge the police officer(s) on the perimeter and ignore their order to remain outside an established police line.

I guess it would be better if you just let your children play in the playground with the tainted soil. Did the reporter cross police tape to obtain the soil sample. It sounds like a cover up by the school district, but lets blame the media for trying to do their job and expose this potential hazard.

Obviously, it's not better to let children play in a playground that's contaminated. The reporter took a calculated risk entering private property without permission to obtain the soil sample; it had nothing to do with police tape. You don't have police tape around your yard, do you? You don't need police tape to establish the boundaries of your property and people don't have any right to trespass upon your property without permission.

In reality, the reporter probably got more ink and air time by being arrested in his quest to report this story.

[helicopper 1,050]

Thanks to Chris for the great illustration! LMAO...get a life

Hello pot, this is kettle! You're a geek!

[BFD2553 75]

I guess it would be better if you just let your children play in the playground with the tainted soil. Did the reporter cross police tape to obtain the soil sample. It sounds like a cover up by the school district, but lets blame the media for trying to do their job and expose this potential hazard. Your comment about the " trained camera equipped fire chasers" being slanted towards the media just shows how little you know about the people you were referring to. Anyone that knows myself or BFD2553 knows that we would put down our cameras in a second to help a brother firefighter at a scene, weather it be changing a bottle, helping to pull hose or even giving some oxygen.

And have done so quite often like x2321 did at yesterday's fatal on I-684

Or help a cop. Like say...YOU Chris (now that I found out who you are). Remember asking a photographer to hold stabilization of a patient at an MVA on the Hutch a while back? Or when you asked me to photograph your class at Butterfield? No tape there. Same guy doing the same job to support his family. This is my paycheck- not a hobby. But we're people just like you who may and have come to your aid whenever asked.

Edited January 29, 2008 by BFD2553

[firemoose827 324]

Moose, sure this can be done and they don't even have to be the PIO. The IC can have ANYONE escort the media in and out of the scene to facilitate their newsgathering. The key is not to challenge the police officer(s) on the perimeter and ignore their order to remain outside an established police line.

I was just wondering because I thought the PIO had special training in dealing with the press and how to answer their questions strategically so they dont stir up a hornets nest or give too much info out before its been confirmed. Thanks for both of your replies.

I only want to take some pics of fire scenes that I cant participate in, for a hobby. I work a lot on the weekends, and I figure if I hear my dept head out, Ill follow them in the ambulance and take shots for the yearbook!! I was also curious about starting a dept photographers position for those guys who dont want to pack up. Thanks for your input.

[LED138 10]

Your comment about the " trained camera equipped fire chasers" being slanted towards the media just shows how little you know about the people you were referring to. Anyone that knows myself or BFD2553 knows that we would put down our cameras in a second to help a brother firefighter at a scene, weather it be changing a bottle, helping to pull hose or even giving some oxygen.

Ummm, your right, I dont know you or BFD. And I never stated that you or BFD would never help out a brother in need of assistance, where that came from, I have no idea.... I was stating my personal opinion of the reply that was made regarding BFD's post.

As far as the second article... Why does a reporter feel the need to or have to trespass on school property to collect dirt? You tell me. Last I can recall is that reporter is reponsible for telling the reader about the story. I mean lets say there was a homocide that took place, should he be allowed to enter the morgue and do his own autopsy, with a doctor with him? Thats a little far fetched but it can be applied to the soil issue. I never said there wasnt a potential cover-up. I was merely pointing out that there have been other riffs in the Bergen/Passaic area involving that newspaper.

And Chris192, I think you misread my "just doing his job"... I was shooting for sarcasm on that one. There were posts that I interpereted as the photographer "doing her job". If you read the last line Im clearly for the reporter getting arrested for trespassing, and for the photog getting arrested for crossing the yellow line, and disobeying a police officer.

And again, Lets see where this one goes within the legal system.

[JCESU 20]

I have to give kudos to everyone that has participated in this discussion so far as it relates to the original topic. Many good points and counter-points were made that myself (and I hope others) will use in the future in dealing with these situations. I am pretty confident that these are the types of discussions that the site wants to promote. As for the disposition of the case..I guess we'll just have to tune in and find out. STAY SAFE

[helicopper 1,050]

And have done so quite often like x2321 did at yesterday's fatal on I-684

Or help a cop. Like say...YOU Chris (now that I found out who you are). Remember asking a photographer to hold stabilization of a patient at an MVA on the Hutch a while back? Or when you asked me to photograph your class at Butterfield? No tape there. Same guy doing the same job to support his family. This is my paycheck- not a hobby. But we're people just like you who may and have come to your aid whenever asked.

You have quite a memory, I have absolutely no recollection of the Hutch job and a fuzzy one at best about Butterfield.

LED, you're right - I missed the sarcasm. I'll have to download the sarcasm update for my computer!

JCESU, you're also right. This was a good discussion.

Edited January 30, 2008 by Chris192