SAN JOSE BANS TV FROM DRUG RAIDS

Spurred by local uproar over a recent on-camera drug bust during a Geraldo Rivera special that resulted in an innocent San Jose man’s arrest, city officials have announced that television crews would no longer be allowed to accompany police on raids.

City Manager Gerald Newfarmer’s office said Wednesday that questions regarding civil liberties had been raised by the live drug raid featured during the nationally syndicated TV show “American Vice: The Doping of a Nation” on Dec. 2. City officials said that San Jose City Attorney Joan Gallo had recommended the temporary TV ban until a city commission could decide on appropriate long-term action.

Two San Jose men were arrested during the live “American Vice” raid; one was released uncharged two hours later. Local media, especially television commentators in San Francisco, criticized the police action as damaging to the innocent man.

But San Jose principals in the dispute blamed Rivera and the commentators.

“The TV news guys really immolated themselves on this one,” San Jose Police Department spokesman Sgt. Dwight Messimer said. “We had always had a good working relationship with the stations before, but the local press beat us up so badly over this case, the city felt it had no choice. We were blamed for having made a bad arrest, though we feel it was a good one. The bottom line now is: The TV news people won’t get decent police coverage.”

Messimer added that police department footage would possibly be withheld from television news departments as well.

Tom Moo, news director for KNTV in San Jose, said the city was blaming local TV stations for Rivera’s transgressions.

“Geraldo Rivera is a long way from the 6 o’clock news in San Jose,” Moo said. “I wish the city had considered that before slapping this order on us. Live drug busts are the most irresponsible form of journalism I can think of, and we don’t run our station like that.”