Thursday’s news article about the effect television crews might have on the actions of police officers is interesting. Does the growing presence of reality TV cameras cause officers to act differently? A crew from A&E’s “The First 48” was along for a raid in Detroit when an officer accidentally killed a 7-year-old girl. The program’s producers won’t say if the incident was recorded, but police say they’re reviewing footage.

Some experts say officers might be compelled to put on a show for the cameras; others say the cameras introduce more accountability. Missing from this examination is the effect on media when it enters into partnerships with law enforcement agencies. Does the press give up independent reporting on a public agency in exchange for increased access, scoops and exclusive interviews?

These questions arose recently when KIRO-TV aired footage of Seattle police officers roughing up a young Hispanic man who they believed was a robbery suspect. The stomping is preceded by an officer who, using a vulgar ethnic slur, threatens the suspect with a severe beating. As it turns out, they had the wrong man. Two officers have been reassigned from the gang unit and are under investigation.

However, another station, KCPQ, better known as Q13, was in possession of the footage almost three weeks before that. Freelance videographer Jud Morris documented the incident and turned it in to the news department, which chose not to immediately air it.

“I was told flat out … that this video will not go to air – we will not air it,” Morris told KIRO. “They said it is not that egregious.”

Morris then posted it on YouTube and sold it to KIRO.

Q13 denies Morris’ version of events, saying they were still in the process of reporting the story. The station works closely with police on a show called “Washington’s Most Wanted,” which broadcasts information about fugitives. Morris believes it was this arrangement and the possibility of losing news tips that caused the station to suppress the video.

Three weeks is an exceedingly long time to gather information when in possession of news footage like this. In the aftermath, the station’s news director resigned and a senior assignment editor was fired.

Whether Q13 would ever have aired the footage is unknown, but because of its arrangement with the Seattle Police Department it has opened itself up to criticism from the community and civil rights groups.

The media must guard their independence so they can be trusted to deliver unfettered reports. This is precisely why we don’t have government-run media. Partnerships with law enforcement or any government agency invite the perception that media are lapdogs, not watchdogs.