Free Press update

“Widespread government surveillance, in addition to imperiling the privacy rights of millions of Americans, has also severely undermined the freedom of the press.”

Press freedoms in this country-

Sometimes restricted, sometimes newspeople just take whatever they are told by public agencies & do not ask questions.

US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA-

Local Border Patrol whistleblower investigation results in further suppression of information.

Agency in question makes an inside deal- like negotiating a record contract or signing a business executive-

“terms are confidential.”

Deal results in further suppression of information.

Oversight? Checks and balances?

Reporters asking questions? Not a chance-

Zero reporting on the following questions:

Are fraudulent overtime claims the norm at Port Angeles?

Does the practice still continue?

How long did it go on?

Our Washington State Patrol opened a criminal investigation in a similar case:

State Patrol union rips criminal probe into lieutenant’s overtime pay

Ex-trooper charged with official misconduct for overtime pay

A proper investigation will reveal the truth- where is the report?

Secret arrest statistics:

Aug 2010-

A US Border Patrol spokesperson tells the press:

“Border Patrol spokeswoman Jenny Burke said Monday that the agency will not release any information on the number of arrests made by agents who work out of the Port Angeles station, the names of those arrested, what they were arrested for and the disposition of their cases”

“The number of arrests for Port Angeles’ or any other station is “law enforcement-sensitive,” Burke said.”

“The names of those arrested and other facts about them are not available for release under the 1974 Privacy Act, she said.”

Number of arrests for Port Angeles or any other station is law enforcement-sensitive?

Looks like another policy is in place here:

US Border Patrol, Erie station–

The people of Erie, PA did not have to submit a FOIA request to find out what justified the expansion of their local Border Patrol station-

No public information/security conflict at the U.S. Border Patrol station (not sector) in Erie, PA.

Erie Station- similar to Port Angeles in that it is separated from Canada by water.

Note: reports of the expansion at Erie include numbers of arrests out of that station:

“The Border Patrol operations in Erie, nearly six years old, include more than 30 agents who apprehended 588 illegal immigrants in fiscal year 2008-09.”

“The Border Patrol’s apprehensions in the Erie area have grown steadily, from 332 in fiscal 2006-2007 to 588 in 2008-09 to 305 so far in 2009-10.

Of those apprehended so far this fiscal year, 136 were individuals found by other law enforcement agencies and turned over to the Border Patrol.”

Another station- another policy:

“While the number of arrests have been up to about 2,000 at the Buffalo station, Bitterman said those numbers are changing.

“Buffalo sector has gone down the last couple of years,” he said.

In the fiscal year 2012 (which runs from Oct. 1-Sept. 30), the Buffalo station, which currently has 311 agents, made 1,143 apprehensions.”

Denied FOIA requests-

“The Border Patrol has refused repeated requests by the Peninsula Daily News — including those made under the Freedom of Information Act — for arrest totals for the Port Angeles station, which covers a territory that includes Clallam and Jefferson counties.”

Port Angeles USBP station- grand opening:

“Jones asked a Peninsula Daily News reporter to interview only Border Patrol personnel selected by the agency and to confine interviews of selected personnel to topics concerning the station’s opening.”

No topics to be discussed unless pre-approved by the agency in question.

Heroin-

Massing US Border Patrol agents at the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca fails to keep heroin out of Port Angeles:

August 4th, 2014

“We know in this county, we have a heroin epidemic,” Payne said.

Question for newspeople:

What role do 1,200-horsepower Border Patrol Interceptor boats play in keeping heroin away from the Olympic Peninsula?

“… their main interaction with the boating public: Boarding boats and checking for ID, getting a “vibe,” as Jeff P. called it, for what’s up.”

Maybe it’s time for investigative journalists to make appointments, schedule interviews and ask some questions. Suggested topics here: News tip/story idea

If no answers are available, please do a story describing the working relationship you have with the Washington State Patrol, local sheriffs departments and city police departments. Any denied FOIA requests generated by these agencies? Please compare to the Border Patrol at Port Angeles.

JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society-