Sheriff: Helicopter was shot down
News about a local police
helicopter being shot down. Only local editors and publishers don't spend the
bucks to cover it.
How often does this happen?
A Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department helicopter that crashed into the backyard of a home in northwest Albuquerque last weekend was brought down by gunfire, and now authorities are searching for suspects.
Sheriff Darren White said late Tuesday it was determined through physical evidence and statements made by the pilot and deputy on board that Metro One was shot. He said authorities have no suspects yet but are working with the FBI.
I’m certain we’ll hear of other similar incidents around the country; but, local thugs shooting down police helicopters doesn’t seem to happen, every week.
The case took a disturbing turn Monday when investigators began putting the pieces of the helicopter back together in an effort to determine why it crashed.
They noticed what appeared to be a small hole in the windshield of the cockpit," White said in a statement. "Deputies also located several items that are consistent with a bullet that has fragmented upon impact.
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The sheriff said the pilot and deputy were assisting deputies on the ground who were investigating a burglary call when the chopper lost power. The pilot told White he heard a pop and then felt the helicopter pitch and then shut down.
The helicopter tore down some trees and a fence on its way down. It landed about 15 feet from the back wall of a house. The aircraft was destroyed.
A check of the websites of regional daily newspapers and local TV stations couldn’t turn up one that actually covered this story on their own. Every one printed a variation of the Associated Press story.
Wire services have a role. Local daily news sources don’t have staff capable of covering stories around the nation, much less the world. Of course, limiting yourself to one wire service leaves you relying on only one point of view. Or no point, as the case may be. But, when a story happens in your own backyard, have editors and publishers become so cheap or conditioned to waiting for pre-packaged “news” -- that they can’t send someone out the door to report back?
Or don't they consider local reporting important enough to put up on their website?
[Update: As the incident continues to escalate, a few hours after this post, the Albuquerque JOURNAL published an article by one of their reporters.]
Posted: Wed - August 10, 2005 at 06:59 AM