I live in a small town where the press is in the pocket of the powers-that-be. That situation doesn't get press. This situation is a lesson to every newspaper t

I live in a small town where the press is in the pocket of the powers-that-be. That situation doesn't get press. This situation is a lesson to every newspaper that might out of line, not to do so. That is to say, you're confused. Corruption is the usual thing a small American city. A paper reporting when it gets out-of-hand is unusual. Cops screwing with the paper or anyone who reports their dirty dealings is normal. Cops getting flack when they do this happens but often they just get away it. Even when the cops get flack in the press, they usually come out OK in the long run. Even a paper gets a lot support and congratulations in the short, they often wind-up screwed in the long run. And sure, a raid is kind of a crude reaction. Local corrupt officially usually have a more subtle way to send a message. Perhaps the local cops felt a need to make their point strongly.