St. Louis Police Acknowledge Journalists' Rights In Special Order

ST. LOUIS, MO — Representatives from the Post-Dispatch, the area's leading newspaper, met with police officials Friday to discuss the department's relationship with journalists, which had become troubled after one of the paper's reporters was swept up in a mass arrest in September. Interim Police Chief Lawrence O'Toole pledged to issue an order requiring officers to read and acknowledge a list of journalists' rights on a monthly basis, the paper reports.

"News media will be given every consideration by Department members so that they may perform their news-gathering function; however, they are not entitled to interfere with an officer's performance of duty or the safety of citizens," O'Toole's order states.

A federal judge ruled earlier this week that police may not use chemical irritants like mace or pepper spray on peaceful protesters, and that police must take steps to protect non-violent demonstrators, bystanders and observers, including journalists.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union last month in which the group claimed police acted unconstitutionally during recent protests. The allegations included arbitrary arrests, indiscriminate use of chemical irritants, and a controversial tactic known as "kettling," where protesters are asked to disperse then prevented from doing so and arrested en masse. It was in one such "kettle" in downtown St. Louis that Post-reporter Mike Falk was arrested.

Post-Dispatch Editor Gilbert Bailon said the paper is encouraged that police and city officials are taking steps to address journalists' concerns. "We are hopeful this new approach will lead to a safe environment for all journalists to provide essential news coverage for the public," he said.

Read more on the order from the Post-Dispatch.

Photo by Jeff Roberson/Associated Press