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Is this news? Tax troubles of accused police officer

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Scout, Jul 23, 2020.

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  1. Scout

    Scout Well-Known Member

    Former Minnesota Police Officer Derek Chauvin Charged With Tax Evasion : Live Updates: Protests For Racial Justice - Former Minnesota Police Officer Derek Chauvin Charged With Tax Evasion

    He never tried to be a public figure, and tax crimes of police or fire or teachers is not reported, or is it?

    I hold NPR to a very high standard, but I don’t agree with them on this. His taxes have nothing to do with his killing of Floyd.
     
    Scout, Jul 23, 2020
    #1
  2. DanOregon

    DanOregon Well-Known Member

    He should have been bounced from the force a while ago. Does MPD even have an Internal Affairs division? And besides, how many times do you see news orgs do legal docs deep dives of VICTIMS of crimes and report on divorces, liens, lawsuits etc. Way too often.
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2020
    DanOregon, Jul 23, 2020
    #2
    tapintoamerica and Kato like this.
  3. Azrael

    Azrael Well-Known Member

    he was no angel
     
    Azrael, Jul 23, 2020
    #3
    Donny in his element, PaperClip529, PCLoadLetter and 4 others like this.
  4. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    It's newsworthy.

    Being defined as a public figure is only really operative if you are talking about libel or defamation FWIW, and being a public figure has nothing to do with whether you chose to acquire your notoriety.

    Like it or not, he is famous and embroiled in a controvery. That makes things like this that are related to him newsworthy. They are not gratuitously reporting an indictment of an anonymous cop. They are reporting another indictment of someone who has been in the news because of a controversy.
     
    The Big Ragu, Jul 23, 2020
    #4
    BWoronoff likes this.
  5. Mngwa

    Mngwa Well-Known Member

    Because police don't cover up for their own all the time? Of course they do.
     
    Mngwa, Jul 23, 2020
    #5
  6. Scout

    Scout Well-Known Member

    I see where you are coming from. I just see it more along the lines of reporting that Floyd has money issues as well, no idea if he did, but the interaction between had nothing to do with money problems.

    I guess it does paint a picture of working beyond the law and rules of society.
     
    Scout, Jul 23, 2020
    #6
    BWoronoff likes this.
  7. Alma

    Alma Well-Known Member

    It’s news.
     
    Alma, Jul 23, 2020
    #7
  8. FileNotFound

    FileNotFound Well-Known Member

    Unquestionably news, just as his fraudulently cast Florida ballots are news.
     
    FileNotFound, Jul 23, 2020
    #8
  9. ringer

    ringer Active Member

    One interesting thing... if he was investigated in June 2020 re: his 2019 tax returns, than Chauvin at least filed them before the (revised) July 15, 2020 deadline.

    Headline might have been clearer if it had said he was charged with under-reporting taxes.
     
    ringer, Jul 23, 2020
    #9
  10. ringer

    ringer Active Member

    p.s. Too bad we can't get Trump's returns. Maybe they could be cellmates.
     
    ringer, Jul 23, 2020
    #10
  11. Severian

    Severian Well-Known Member

    This is absolutely news.

    Then he should've thought quadruple before putting his knee on a Black man's neck while people filmed him.
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2020
    Severian, Jul 23, 2020
    #11
    PaperClip529, wicked and 2muchcoffeeman like this.
  12. sgreenwell

    sgreenwell Well-Known Member

    Making the hypothetical leap that this other thing didn't happen - Yes, absolutely, tax fraud by a police officer is probably A1 in every city's local paper, except maybe New York or L.A. People get pissed when public officials waste taxpayer dollars. Hell, one of the most commented stories at my old paper was about public works employees helping themselves to free gasoline at the pumps. The total "damage" was about $350 before they were caught. This wouldn't be a *national* story if he hadn't done that other thing, but hey, he did.
     
    sgreenwell, Jul 23, 2020
    #12
    Dog8Cats likes this.
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