Thread: The Kokomo Tribune, the Truth, and Bias if I've ever seen it!

In a story at the Kokomo Tribune today titled "KPD chief says he felt ‘intimidated’" it sure seems Reporter? Ken de la Bastide has an agenda in his style of writing.

I try very hard to not criticize local media anymore, but the presentation of this story borders on ridiculous. Mr. de la Bastide and the Tribune editors should be ashamed of themselves.

Eight different eyewitness accounts I have of the Kirk/Davis hearing are the same when discussing how Kirk supposedly 'intimidated' Chief Rob Baker, and what was presented in public. All eight accounts agree the Chief was questioned numerous times and asked to describe exactly HOW he was 'intimidated'... and each time Baker failed to provide a single reason for his fear.

Jeff Kirk didn't threaten to punch the guy, or pull a gun, or even shout. He went to Baker in Christian Charity to warn his longtime fellow officer that ugly stories of Baker's extra-marital affairs might be made public by the press.

That's all. If Baker was intimidated, then apparently the public disclosure of truthful information scared him a great deal... but then, it does seem Baker is indeed 'intimidated' by the truth.

The truth is what it is. As the old saying goes, "Don't shoot the messenger" is applicable here, and its practice was considered chivalrous in ancient times.

I suppose some have concluded... unlike Ken de la Bastide or the Kokomo Tribune... that Kokomo's Chief of Police is anything but chivalrous.

From his earlier-reported refusal to answer legitimate questions at a proper forum (insisting on the non-reply 'If you say so') to this wonderful example of reporting, Baker appears cowardly, egotistical, and misguided all rolled into a single personality.

It's no wonder he can't answer simple questions... he seems rather confused himself.

This brings me to the issue of Baker removing official investigative files from the Police Department proper and locking them in a personal safe at his home.

He justifies this because "there are too many people with keys". That's just pure nonsense. Has the Chief never heard of a locksmith? How many other files does he have sequestered at his home because he's worried someone might see them?

My guess would be none, now that Jeff Kirk removed the only file Baker chose to protect within his residence.

Next Baker claims these official documents were HIS and he owned them. How does that happen? What other work developed by City Police officers has the Chief decided to take as his own?

Gosh, maybe President Bush should start hauling records of nuclear stockpiles and suspects in the Kennedy assassination to Texas because "too many people have keys" to the C.I.A.

It's just a ludicrous excuse for trying to hide evidence and obstruct justice.

de la Bastide attempts a grand ending by quoting the Chief of Police as saying “I felt intimidated and threatened,...Possible [Kirk] would bring a gun and shot me."

This is an odd statement for any police officer to make, particularly a Chief of Police, the expected leader of Kokomo's law-enforcement organization.

Chief, if people with guns intimidate you... you're in the wrong line of work.

It remains my hope that Mayor Goodnight, after having witnessed the hearing testimony and becoming aware of his Chief's downfalls and questionable acts, will insist Jeff Kirk and Greg Davis are exonerated and an immediate reorganization of KPD is undertaken.

To quite a lot of people, this seems to be Greg Goodnight's moment to shine...

NIK

[quote=notinkokomo;137012]In a story at the Kokomo Tribune today titled "KPD chief says he felt ‘intimidated’" it sure seems Reporter? Ken de la Bastide has an agenda in his style of writing.

I have to agree concerning the story written by Ken. But I think his Editor had the last say in how this article was written. I know Ken and he is usually fair in his reporting.


That's all. If Baker was intimidated, then apparently the public disclosure of truthful information scared him a great deal... but then, it does seem Baker is indeed 'intimidated' by the truth.

The truth is what it is. As the old saying goes, "Don't shoot the messenger" is applicable here, and its practice was considered chivalrous in ancient times.

In my opinion, Baker has made this a personal vendetta. He was caught and is not taking personal responsibility. Baker made his recommendation to the Board to give the officers time off, but during the hearing decided they needed to be fired.????? What kind of leadership is that? Either they deserved to be fired or they didn't. A true leader makes decisions based on facts, not emotion. I think Baker may need to have a psychological evaluation rather than Kirk.


From his earlier-reported refusal to answer legitimate questions at a proper forum (insisting on the non-reply 'If you say so') to this wonderful example of reporting, Baker appears cowardly, egotistical, and misguided all rolled into a single personality.

You might add childish and no leadership abilities to this list.


Next Baker claims these official documents were HIS and he owned them. How does that happen? What other work developed by City Police officers has the Chief decided to take as his own?

I found THAT statement interesting as well. This is CITY property not his.


It's just a ludicrous excuse for trying to hide evidence and obstruct justice.

My question is why hasn't our Prosecutor jumped on this? Why isn't there an internal investigation on Baker? This shows very, very poor leadership in our City government and KPD.


It remains my hope that Mayor Goodnight, after having witnessed the hearing testimony and becoming aware of his Chief's downfalls and questionable acts, will insist Jeff Kirk and Greg Davis are exonerated and an immediate reorganization of KPD is undertaken.

To quite a lot of people, this seems to be Greg Goodnight's moment to shine...

Unfortunately, the Chief is a friend of Goodnights. Goodnight is going to pressure the board to fire Kirk and Davis. Sad but true. The one good thing that may come out of this is that Kirk and Davis will be vindicated when they win their law suit against the City.

For pete's sake. How long does it take to realize that Ken De LaBastide, Scott Smith and Jeff Kovaleski are about as bright as a burnt out light bulb.

Smith and De LaBastide are so biases it is laughable. They plain suck as journalists. Then add Jeff Kovaleski to the mix and you have Moe, Larry and Curly.

Thoese three couldn't run a ***** house by hand in the middle of an Army camp.

I have to agree with NIK. It sure didn't take the chief long to have Kirk and Davis locks changed on the offices after they turned their informaion over to another agency. You would have thought that the chief could have changed his lock also.

See the Kokomo Perspective article here:

Davis, Kirk hearing goes into overtime

Thanks for the truth, Mr. Munsey.

NIK

Originally Posted by Unions Suck

For pete's sake. How long does it take to realize that Ken De LaBastide, Scott Smith and Jeff Kovaleski are about as bright as a burnt out light bulb.

Smith and De LaBastide are so biases it is laughable. They plain suck as journalists. Then add Jeff Kovaleski to the mix and you have Moe, Larry and Curly.

Thoese three couldn't run a ***** house by hand in the middle of an Army camp.

Sure, De LaBastide probably made an effort to twist the story to blast Kirk. I don't doubt this at all. Scott Smith is also known to do this, not be objective. I haven't read enough of Kovaleski. I will say that both De LaBastide and Smith have improved their writing. It is much more clear. Smith now writes like an USA Today journalist, terse, quick lines. This is good. However, they are all guilty of twisting things around to favor whomever they want to favor. I saw this with Smith in an article he printed about an old man who lived on Jackson Street years ago. He told some lies in an attempt to rally the public against this old man and for the city. I refuted his embellishments in print and then the public swayed against him.

As for the ongoing police/politics situation, I am not concerned. They couldn't pay me enough money to be a cop. These dudes are overworked and underpaid. I will keep my eye on the Tribune writing, though. Before the Perspective, the Tribune was a rag, just shitty writing. Also, they covered up anything considered too harsh for the public. The Perspective started delving into City Hall. This is what objective journalism is suppose to be, an oversight function for a free society. This is what the early Muckrakers for the Hearst papers did, find out all the crap the government was doing and then reporting it. I have a love/hate relationship with my country, but there is one aspect that I truely love and that is the freedom of the press. We didn't have this here in Kokomo until the Perspective showed up downtown. Thanks. As Voltaire once wrote, "I don't agree with what you say (write) but I will fight to the death for your right to say it."