Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed lashed out at a local television station for questioning his use of flashing lights and emergency signals to travel around metro Atlanta.
In a story Tuesday, Channel 2 Action News videotaped the mayor's security detail regularly using emergency signals to transport the mayor around town for routine appointments.
State law bars the use of emergency sirens except in cases of actual emergency.
A statement from City Hall called the story “frivolous and irresponsible” and said Channel 2 aired “an inflamatory investigation” in pursuit of ratings.
“In their zeal to create a controversy and drive ratings during their ‘sweeps’ period, WSB reporters have failed to consider the larger context and clear need to provide for the safety and security of Mayor Reed and his family,” the statement said.
The statement said the mayor was under “risks and threats…on a daily basis” and relied on his security detail to keep him out of harm’s way.
“With all due respect to WSB, (its) reporters have never been responsible for keeping a national figure and his young family safe in such an unstable and unpredictable atmosphere,” the statement said. “Mayor Reed will continue to defer to the judgment of these professionals, rather than the speculation of reporters who clearly have no regard for the safety of Mayor Reed and his family.”
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