Story Archive

Parma Sans Satire

Anthony Novak, 27, put up a Facebook page for the Parma, Ohio, police, the police say. The page explained how to become a Parma cop — “The test will consist of a 15 question multiple choice definition test followed by a hearing test. Should you pass you will be accepted as an officer of the Parma Police Department.” — and announced that the police were “introducing a new temporary law” to starve the homeless out of town by banning food donations. The page was fake. Now the real Parma police say the page “crossed the line from satire to an actual risk to public safety.” They’ve arrested Novak, and he now faces a charge of disrupting public services. (AC/Cleveland Plain Dealer, WJW Cleveland) ...You know what really disrupts police services? Going after their critics instead of real crime.