Recording device found at Will County courthouse
By Rose Panieri
rpanieri [at] stmedianetwork [dot] com
Updated: July 19, 2011 2:20AM
It appears that Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. — in its ongoing effort to mold a media monarchy — has resorted to dubious means of making headline news. Murdoch allegedly encouraged the hacking of phones and bribing of public officials to obtain the “raw meat” insatiable readers find so tasty.
Does it seem that journalism has morphed into a virtual “spy vs. spy” occupation, populated with reporters who majored in journalism and minored in espionage? How safe are you in discussing your gallstones with Aunt Henrietta?
Never fear. The fine residents of our fair county need not worry about such shenanigans. Having been a denizen of this newspaper for more than seven years, I can assure you our reporters are salt of the earth. Our journalists would sooner rip the wings off of butterflies than resort to dirtier-than-dirt means of scoring a scoop.
Besides, in these challenging economic times, we have neither the money to bribe nor the technology to hack.
Crazy courthouse caper
I bring this up because of an unusual piece of technology delivered to our offices by Michael, a Joliet native. He discovered a Lane wireless transmitter and receiver on the steps outside the Will County Courthouse in the early afternoon hours of July 7.
Michael had no wish to give me his last name because he’s afraid. I didn’t fathom his fear until he explained.
“I think that the transmitter and receiver unit is what’s known as an electronic bug,” he said. “It’s kind of weird that there would be a bug outside of the courthouse. It makes you wonder if someone — maybe a reporter — might have wanted to listen to the behind-the-scenes conversations at the courthouse.”
“From what I understand, cameras and tape recorders — and most certainly electronic listening devices — are not allowed in court. Folks who visit are searched before being allowed to enter the courthouse,” I said. “I doubt that any reporter would be foolhardy enough to try to get into the courthouse with a bug.”
“Maybe that’s why I found it outside,” he said. “For the record, if there is a video of me picking it up. I want it to be known that I brought it to The Herald-News. It doesn’t belong to me. I didn’t even know what it was until I got home and did some research.”
The mystery of the bug
Herald-News reporter Cindy Cain, who occasionally covers court cases, told me that when visitors learn they cannot bring their cell phones or cameras into the courthouse, they occasionally hide them in bushes near the courthouse.
“They stash them somewhere because they don’t want to have to walk all the way back to their cars,” she said.
Since there are a wealth of sources that sell electronic receivers and transmitters, I am assuming it is not illegal to own a bug. Perhaps a local technophile bought the bug as a novelty to impress his friends and neighbors.
Maybe the device belongs to a parent who wants to keep a surreptitious eye (or ear) on their offspring—completely understandable.
Or perhaps, readers, it’s something much darker and more sinister. Maybe our sleepy little county is finally entering the era of Big Brother, and nothing we say or do will be ever be private again. It boggles the mind.
If the device belongs to you, give me a call. Anyone with insights is also welcome to call.
By on 21/07/2011