Self-appointed Keystone Kops

There is no excuse for Niagara Region’s actions Thursday night.

Following orders from on high, its officials dictatorially seized a reporter’s notes and laptop under the mistaken belief he was secretly recording a closed-door meeting.

It was a despicable, shameful, wrongful, defamatory and incredibly stupid response to a non-existent problem.

I’m not sure how anyone could forgive this brazen, intimidating attempt at suppressing the right to report on the workings of local democracy.

But maybe — just maybe — the furor over their actions might have abated slightly if the following day, once they realized the egregiousness of their behaviour and the breadth of community condemnation, regional officials sucked it up, unequivocally acknowledged their huge mistake, admitted they acted like bullies, conceded they had no legal authority to confiscate someone’s property and apologized profusely to not only reporter Bill Sawchuk but all Niagara citizens.

Guess what? They did none of this.

Instead, they composed and issued a news release that weakly attempted to justify their actions by explaining the mindset that led to the wrongful seizure of Sawchuk’s notepad and computer.

It was a breathtakingly insulting attempt at butt-covering.

According to the Region, the incident can be explained thusly.

Council went into closed session to discuss a personnel matter that involved legal advice. At some point, two electronic devices on the media table were noticed. One appeared to be recording.

In order to “protect the confidentiality and integrity” of the session, the meeting was halted, the devices were photographed and the cops called.

Staff “took possession” of the devices with the intention of turning them over to the police.

Later, after receiving “assurances” from The Standard’s lawyer that Sawchuk was not recording the closed session, his device was returned.

“Niagara Region apologizes for this inconvenience caused to Mr. Sawchuk,” the release read. Let’s see, where to begin ... Well, how about the fact Sawchuk, a veteran presence at the media table, told regional staff he wasn’t recording the meeting. His computer didn’t even have the capability of recording, they were told. Didn’t matter. The Region asserted its nonexistent right to take away his laptop. And his notebook.

Bloodied but unbowed, Sawchuk then tried to re-enter the council chambers to cover the rest of the meeting once it had reconvened into open session.

No can do, said the Region’s newly self-appointed Keystone Kops. You’re out. And if you don’t willingly leave, the real Niagara police will escort you from the premises.

To sum up then, Sawchuk’s property is confiscated under dubious authority, he’s accused of unethical behaviour and essentially labeled a liar, has his professional reputation besmirched and is shown the door under threat of police escort like he’s a common criminal.

And the Region is sorry for the ‘inconvenience’ caused to him? Wait. There’s more.

The Region, we are informed in the news release, “takes this matter very seriously.”

Indeed, it will be reviewing its policy and protocols “in order to prevent similar incidents.”

And it will be inviting local media to “participate in this process.”

Are you kidding me? It needs to form a review committee to prevent a similar incident from occurring?

How about just stop acting like paranoid, power-mad oafs.