QUICKLINK Texas · July 29, 2008 · Newsgathering
Texas journalist detained over oil spill photos
Keywords: Photographers; Police
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A photographer with a Texas newspaper was detained Monday for 45 minutes after he refused to show police his pictures of workers tending to an oil spill, the Galveston County Daily News reported.
Texas City Police Cpl. Tom Robison told reporter Chris Paschenko it's department policy to stop anybody from taking pictures of city chemical plants and "review the photos to see if they pose any threat," the paper reported.
"There's no law that says you can't take pictures from a public roadway," Robison was quoted saying, "but the issue becomes: Are any of the shots compromising security measures?"
He also told The Daily News he typically gets "overwhelming cooperation," in the paper's words, whenever he asks television or print reporters if he can review their images. Local news affiliates told the Daily News otherwise.
Kevin Cox, the Daily News photographer in question, took most of his photos of the oil spill while standing on a street corner, according to the paper.
— Kathleen Cullinan, 6:00 pm
Comments: (3)
Comment by Oil Spills, Fri, Jan 30, 2009, 8:20am
Wow, I wonder why he didn't show the police his pics?
Comment by comment on oil spills, Thu, May 28, 2009, 6:51pm
I believe the reporter had every constitutional right to deny access to his personal photo of the incident. Big brother is over stepping his authoritive power. There need to check and balance of power given to our police force. The cases of police brutality, killing, and all this evidence that is committed by police officers are kept confidential or is hidden or covered up.
Comment by Scott wilson, Mon, Aug 10, 2009, 1:44pm
the reporter was treated so bad....he has the right not to disclose anything to the police...as he is not working for the police.
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