As SDO one night at Gutersloh in 1977 the station switchboard connected me to an individual claiming to be the father of one of our NCOs and demanding to speak to him. This Sgt. (IIRC) in question had been involved, then named, in a very sad incident in France which had made the news in a big way.
Said "father" was demanding to speak to Sgt .... but unease grew regarding " method of approach, tone and attitude" so I took the path of querying credentials.
It was the news desk of one of our well known tabloids.