Be careful what you say about the cops, or they might shut you out.
That appears to be the moral to the story in Worcester where the city's biggest newspaper says the police are giving them the silent treatment
The Worcester Telegram and Gazette has done a series of recent articles critical of the police department. One of those stories was about the unusual amount of overtime the chief's brother was making.
The department says the T&G's coverage "places a premium on hyperbole over reality" so they've decided to no longer give the newspaper any information. They have "altered" their media policy to deal now only with local radio stations and local TV.
Can they get away with that? The city manager points out the department has a "moral and legal responsibility" to keep the public informed.
Editor’s Update 12:45 pm: The Worcester Police Chief tells WBZ that there is no official ‘boycott ‘ of the T & G. However, he does confirm the department is changing its media policy to scold the paper, to let them know they are not the ‘only game in town’ and increase transparency in the department.
