Dear dimwit on the phone

Never been a fan of publishing names of arrests. Sure it's public record. Fine. But what purpose does it serve. If someone actually gets convicted of something, you can run it then if you must.

I guess I've got a soft spot for people who get arrested for whatever and have to deal with all kinds of other crap (outside the legal system) just because their name was attached to something in print. There are always a few yahoos in every community who automatically assume everyone who's arrested is guilty.

 

Serious question: You do not take a roster to each sideline and ask for any changes from coaches?

Now, that doesn't always solve the problem, but it helps.

 

We had this happen, and the arrest report had slipped through the cracks, but it turned out she was a bus driver or similar school employee and had provided alcohol to a minor.

 

The stat guy for the team didn't know this had happened until sometime in the 2nd half either. Just a pair of goofy kids who thought it would be cool to switch #s part-way through the season.

 

guess i shouldn't know if my neighbor was arrested for sexually abusing 10-year-olds, should i? can't see how that would be a service to the community or anything like that.

 

Oh, OK, Flex. I didn't realize it was a stunt.

 

Hmmm. Interesting idea. Never did that. I try to say hello to coaches before kickoff, but never went over rosters with them.

 

Things I learned as a crime reporter, no. 402 ...

Most people who are charged are guilty. Most plead guilty. Few go to trial. Why? Because they really did it. Despite all the conspiracy and "fuck the police" mentality, cops and prosecutors aren't charging random people with crimes. There's enough real crime.

 

Several years ago, we swung by a preseason prep football practice to shoot mug shots, and the longtime head coach (who also happened to be the principal) knew we were coming. Some of the kids - including a future DI player - aren't wearing a practice jersey. So, we got a picture of them wearing their shoulder pads, etc. That's how they were practicing - really.

Then again, this is the same school that had a handwritten roster the year it won a state title and had an All-American tailback who eventually played for 10 years in the NFL. The only time I saw a typed roster was in the state finals program.

Slappy also dealt with this coach before he wandered south of the Mason-Dixon Line. I'm guessing that our opinions of this clown are pretty much the same.

 

I hope I missed the blue font on this one.

 

My theory about running arrests is that the best possible world is to also run court dispositions, completing the cycle.

Of course we don't have the bodies for that or for land transactions, either.

 

Some places (albeit a lot fewer than in the past) do that. A place I used to work for had an entire section each Monday devoted to all public matters like these things, bankruptcy filings, real estate purchases, etc.