PRESS RELEASE FROM THE BIG BEND PBA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 5, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT:

Michael Skelly

(917) 364-8142

BIG BEND PBA SLAMS POLITICALLY-DRIVEN MEDIA REPORT VILIFYING A TALLAHASSEE POLICE OFFICER THE DAY BEFORE THE TRIAL BEGINS FOR A SUSPECT INVOLVED IN A DUI ARREST

TALLAHASSEE – The following statement can be attributed to Big Bend PBA President Richard Murphy:

“Biased reporting is not a new phenomenon, especially when police officers are involved, but “Our Tallahassee” reporter, Max Herrle, has taken biased reporting to a pathetic new level. In a video that he obtained, Herrle gives an unofficial narration during a police stop involving a DUI incident. The reporter takes great liberty to narrate what Police Officer Oliver was doing at the time of the stop and her apparent motivations. According to Herrle, Officer Oliver engaged in a deliberate plan to plant alcohol in the suspect’s car in order to effectuate a DUI arrest. The Tallahassee Police Department reviewed the incident and found no evidence of misconduct. This outrageous story published yesterday, the day before the suspect’s trial begins, can serve no other purpose than to taint the jury pool by vilifying our police officer. We call for an immediate investigation into how the officer’s body cam footage was leaked to this reporter in an attempt to interfere with an official court proceeding. We are also exploring our legal options to prevent further jury tampering in future cases involving our members. Contrary to Herrle’s bogus report, the only plot that existed here is the one in which he was complicitly engaged in with whomever provided him this body cam footage. This is outrageous!”