The Dallas Police Association isn’t taking any of CNN’s anchor Fredricka Whitfield’s attempts to downplay a comment she made Saturday referring to an attempted cop killer as “courageous and brave.” After immediate backlash, Whitfield attempted to deflect criticism on Sunday by halfheartedly claiming she “misspoke.”
In a statement released today, the association referred to her comments as “appalling and offensive,” and sought out a real apology from the network:
“Yesterday CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield called James Boulware ‘courageous and brave’ just hours after he attacked our police headquarters with the intent to kill as many police officers as he could,” said Frederick Frazier, Vice President of the Dallas Police Association. “While her comments were appalling and offensive to the men and women in police departments across our country, her flippant non-apology served as further insult. We call on CNN to offer a more appropriate apology for the offensive comments made by Ms. Whitfield.”
It seems the Dallas Police Association is not going to meekly stand by while CNN tolerates an inexcusable statement by a network anchor which demeans America's law-enforcement community. It remains to be seen, of course, to what extent, if any, that CNN's competitors highlight the DPA's rebuke of CNN.
The full statement released by the Dallas Police Association can be found below:
In the hours after the violent attack on the Dallas Police Department headquarters in which a lone gunman attempted to kill police officers using an armored van stocked with weapons and explosives, CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield said, “It was very courageous and brave, if not crazy as well, to open fire on the police headquarters, and now you have this scene, this standoff.”
Facing outrage from viewers from across the country, CNN promised Whitfield would offer an on-air apology on Sunday. However, instead of offering an apology to those who truly represent courage and bravery — the men and women of the Dallas Police Department — Whitfield spent only 13 seconds to simply say she ‘misspoke,’a weak and often-used term when backtracking from an offensive statement. The promised apology from Whitfield was never provided.
“Yesterday CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield called James Boulware ‘courageous and brave’ just hours after he attacked our police headquarters with the intent to kill as many police officers as he could,” said Frederick Frazier, Vice President of the Dallas Police Association. “While her comments were appalling and offensive to the men and women in police departments across our country, her flippant non-apology served as further insult. We call on CNN to offer a more appropriate apology for the offensive comments made by Ms. Whitfield.”
“We have voiced our concern that the media’s negative narrative about police officers is jeopardizing our safety. The actions of CNN are proof that our concern has merit,” added Frazier.
