OfficerBlueSeveral law enforcement agencies are ending their agreements with the A&E show ”Live PD.”
Local government leaders, not in law enforcement, have determined that the TV show made their communities look bad, according to KXLY.
Bridgeport, Connecticut; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Streetsboro, Ohio have all decided to shield the public from seeing their citizens interacting with law enforcement.
Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim whined about “Live PD“ recording in a year when Bridgeport’s homicide rate has doubled, according to FOX News. “If that’s the only thing that’s being publicized nationally about our city, it can have a negative impact,” he said. “We don’t have the Travel Channel doing anything on how wonderful all our economic development projects are.”
Streetsboro City Council president John Ruediger wasn’t happy with the show either, and suggested that canceling participation was done to protect children.
“I personally thought it portrayed our city in a negative light,” Ruediger said, according to FOX News. “I think every city has its share of problems, and I don’t think it’s always best to highlight those issues. I was personally concerned that any kid featured on the show could end up bullied … especially if their parent is on the show doing something bad.”
However, Jeffersonville, Indiana Assistant Chief Michael McVoy thinks that the show is great.
“For us, it’s humanizing the badge, No. 1,” he said, according to FOX News. “For every 1,000 positive comments or likes or social media hits or fuzzy, warm feelings we get from across the country, there are always five or 10 that say, ‘Hey. Why are you arresting this guy for marijuana possession?’ Stuff like that. Some people don’t see eye to eye with what we do.”
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office says that they will be withdrawing so that they can focus on recruitment, but they intend to start back up later.
Deputy Mark Gregory told KXLY that they haven’t seen any bad publicity from the show.