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© Copyright 2002, Jim Loy
On July 27, 1996, an anonymous call to Atlanta's 911 number claimed that a bomb was going to explode at the Olympic games. Shortly thereafter, security guard Richard Jewell spotted a backpack, and helped evacuate the area. The bomb exploded, killing one woman, and injuring dozens of other people. Jewell was hailed as a hero.
Then the Atlanta Journal-Constitution learned from an unnamed source in the police department that Jewell was a suspect in the bombing. Jewell was essentially crucified in the press. CNN said, "Richard Jewell, 33, a former law enforcement officer, fits the profile of the lone bomber. This profile generally includes a frustrated white man who is a former police officer, member of the military or police 'wannabe' who seeks to become a hero." They also mentioned that he himself sought publicity for his actions; he had apparently hired a publicity agent. Some of the news stories were personally insulting, saying that he was fat, essentially a loser, and almost saying that he was guilty. In October, the FBI announced that Jewell was no longer a suspect. Jewell sued the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Apparently the lawsuit goes on.
What went wrong here? The police were correct to suspect Jewell. He fit the profile. A profile is not evidence, but is the basis for strong hunches, hunches like police have depended upon forever, profile or no profile. The police should not have leaked this info, for the leak was a public accusation. And the press went overboard in assuming Jewell's guilt. The courts presume innocence until proven guilty. The press doesn't always do that. The courts do not presume innocence because it is an arbitrary rule, they presume innocence because it is just, because it is right. The press is a forum in which people are actually tried and found innocent or guilty. And sometimes the press does not seem to realize that.