Cincinnati kicks out ‘Cops’
The Cincinnati Police Department withdrew permission Thursday for the television show “Cops” to record officers on the job, a day after some City Council members complained it could undo progress made since the city’s 2001 race riots.
On Tuesday, crews from the long-running Fox series began a planned eight weeks of taping Cincinnati officers for the program, which depicts police from cities nationwide on patrol and making arrests.
Several council members complained Wednesday that Police Chief Thomas Streicher Jr.’s decision to allow the crews to ride along with officers might generate footage of street arrests that could bring the city more negative publicity. The city had three nights of riots in 2001 after a white officer shot to death an unarmed black man wanted on misdemeanor charges.
“I did not really see any benefit for ‘Cops’ coming and trying to sensationalize Cincinnati,” Councilwoman Alicia Reece said.
John Langley, executive producer of “Cops,” could not immediately be reached for comment.
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