Billings Gazette Reporter Joins the Controversial American Police Force for Prison PR

Often hacks become flacks, though not usually for pseudo-military organizations that roll in to town in Mercedes SUVs bearing phony City Police emblems, as is the case with Becky Shay, former reporter with the Billings Gazette in Montana. The company she works for, the controversial American Police Force (APF) was part of her beat as recently as last month.

APF claims it is in Hardin, Montana to take over the new but empty prison. The tiny town made a name for itself (see TIME’s coverage)