WDIA's Bobby O'Jay Taking Flak For On Air Comments

[WhiskeyRobber]

http://community.myeyewitnessnews.com/blogs/speakup/archive/2008/03/06/2720989.aspx

The Lester Street murders: Six people, including two children, found dead inside their home on March 3, 2008.

O'Jay then tells Listeners to think twice before phoning Crime stoppers:

"When you get it and get all that money at one time, the people in the hood are gonna know you got it and people start talking,"

And that is not sitting too well with the community. Read Rest of Story

 

[Zeke_Terry]

Why this man still has a job in radio is beyond me. Popularity or not - if his comments incite reactions that cause damages or harm - he should be fired.

If Bobby O'Jay isn't part of fixing the problem - then perhaps, perhaps .... well I won't go there.

 

[radiosaur]

He did WHAT?

Has he been a Secret Shopper at the Stupid Store?

It's hard enough to get information on crimes from the black community. The last thing we need is him feeding the "Stop snitching" mentality. That's what makes Crimestoppers such a success. It's anonymous, and they are serious about protecting the informants.

I hope WDIA managment acts.

That said, do we know what he really said? Did he say "Be careful" or 'Don't do it"?

 

[Robrt32]

I have listened to him over the years.. Spending as much time as i do in tractor seat you flip stations ALOT!!.. I always has him pegged for not the sharpest knife in the drawer but that was way STUPID!!.. Where is Al and Jessie? If a white talk show host had said that , they would demand he be fired!!..... UNBELIEVABLE!

 

[littlebigradio]

I think that folk's kneejerk reaction to Bobby's comment overshadowed the point he was trying to make. He was trying to point out that one would need to be judicious and think the sutuation thru before they make tha call. They would need to be extremely careful about who he talked to about it (which sould be nobody) and how he/she spends the money. One of the possibilities in the investigation was that this could have been gang related. The reward was a very larg sum of money and folks notice when one suddenly acquires and starts spending large amounts of money for seemingly no good reason. I think Bobby's point was "just be smart and be careful" rather than "don't call Crimestoppers".

Speaking of that, will they be giving the young child that ratted out the murderer the reward?

 

[Zeke_Terry]

I think Bobby's point was "just be smart and be careful" rather than "don't call Crimestoppers".

Speaking of that, will they be giving the young child that ratted out the murderer the reward?

If that's the case, then friggin say what you mean - instead of saying "Stop Snitching & Don't call the Cops". Does he actually KNOW how to convey a thought that isn't inherantly negative to - cops, white people, the media - anyone that isn't black???

He's almost - ALMOST as bad as "insert your own moniker here" Willie Herenton.

Instead of education his listeners, he's playing to their baser fears and quandrys.

 

[JustARadioFan]

The reward was a very larg sum of money and folks notice when one suddenly acquires and starts spending large amounts of money for seemingly no good reason. I think Bobby's point was "just be smart and be careful" rather than "don't call Crimestoppers".

Yeah, I'm sure the neighbors would be asking a lot of questions if someone went from getting food stamps and rental assistance to suddenly start buying 52" plasma tvs and gold plated spinners... dude should just draw a bulls eye on his back. Perhaps such rewards should be broken down to monthly or yearly allotments to 1) keep folks from getting green fever and blowing the whole wad on everything not nailed down in the store 2) help keep their anonymity.

Speaking of that, will they be giving the young child that ratted out the murderer the reward?

One of the tv stations reported that because the tip didn't go through Crime Stoppers, they won't be paying it out. Personally, I would be happy to contribute to the current CS fund to make sure these kids had money for school and college so they could at least have a snowball's chance of getting away from the 'hood and that life style

 

[Meepster]

Chances are they may already have the plasma and the spinners!

 

[JustARadioFan]

All too true.... which is why they call me for help on their utilities each month. :-\

 

[littlebigradio]

If that's the case, then friggin say what you mean - instead of saying "Stop Snitching & Don't call the Cops".

\C'mon....I hardly think that those were the words that came out of his mouth......gimme a break dude.

 

[Robrt32]

I guess it would be just too easy to get the money and MOVE!

 

[MemBirdman]

I guess it would be just too easy to get the money and MOVE!

It would be. If they don't have money, they get evicted and move to another apartment with a free month's rent. If you have money, you don't have that option.

I'm generalizing, but not by much. I saw this all too often when I was working for a specialized daycare.

 

[Medusa2U]

I can't begin to imagine the victims' suffering and knowing the children were in danger. I can't imagine children so heinously being attacked and having to be in protective custody. Just little ones informing investigators and implicating their uncle. The fear of living through such a brutal attack, fear if they'd come back, fear if someone else would come after them, fear of gangs, drugs/guns goings on...one can only hope the children and families will be able to come through this.

The CrimeStoppers reward was the usual $1,000, the Memphis City Council another $30,000 and the maximum allowed by law of $50,000 put up by the State of Tennessee.

Given the situation at the time I'm not so sure I'd implicate anyone for $1,000 if I thought there might be retaliation. I do hope with the MCC and State amounts the children will be provided for as who can tell what mental and physical effects they have yet to endure in their youth.