Law enforcement officials apparently don’t realize how dangerous a masquerade can be. Impersonation of journalists by law enforcement or intelligent officers can be perilous — for the journalists. That experience demonstrated the grave risks that can grow from situations that allow people to confuse intelligence or law enforcement officials with journalists. But the cost was clouding a crucial and needed distinction between law enforcement and journalism. Any policy regulating impersonation of journalists should do so “more aggressively than this one does,” Brown said.

Source: Washington Post September 21, 2016 11:03 UTC