After an Edmonton journalist wrote an article criticizing red light and speed cameras in the city (citing statistics that the cameras "raise about $14 million annually for police" but do nothing to reduce traffic injuries), the police there targeted him in a sting operation, hoping to bust him on drunk driving charges.
The police broke the law when they used a restricted database to obtain information on the journalist (who, much to the dismay of the police, had a clean record). The police were also unsuccessful in their attempt to bust the journalist.
Now the police are saying they were only doing their duty to serve and protect… themselves, that is. Link
Reader comment: Sneaver says: "Regarding your post about Edmonton cops targeting journalists who criticize them, it's much worse than that. The cops have also targetted others who dare to speak out against them or fight back, e.g. one of the leading defence lawyers who has spoken out against police corruption and dirty tricks has repeatedly had his privacy invaded and been subjected to a smear campaign. Here are a couple of relevant links: here and here.
"Our city has lost several police chiefs in the last few years, in large part to all the scandals and corruption within the police force. It's sad how things have got so out of control here."
