




I. Show Some ID, Bud








II. Justice for Some, But Not All




Officer blocking camera




Sources: YouTube, Photography is Not a Crime

Comments     Threshold


RE: all part of a pattern
By superstition on 11/26/2012 4:18:32 PM , Rating: 5
And, last, but not least — the expansion of the prison industry, courtesy of our friends at ALEC.

Prison labor is the new outsourcing.

RE: all part of a pattern
By PrinceGaz on 11/26/12, Rating: -1
RE: all part of a pattern
By MechanicalTechie on 11/26/2012 11:48:43 PM , Rating: 4
You seriously think that every member of Law Enforcement does the job for the right reason.. like every other agency or industry people will abuse their position and power.

If they have nothing to hide then what is the problem? I'm on camera from the second I leave my front door to the time I return and I dont have a issue with it.

Seems hypocritical for the snorts to monitor my every move but we can reciprocate while they are in the public domain?

RE: all part of a pattern
By GotThumbs on 11/27/12, Rating: -1
RE: all part of a pattern
By GotThumbs on 11/27/12, Rating: 0
RE: all part of a pattern
By CalaverasGrande on 11/27/2012 12:17:35 PM , Rating: 5
That is a false equivalency. The police are responsible for enforcing the law, and use deadly force in some cases. No matter how badly anyone screws up the network or an individual computer at my job, deadly force is not an option.
Nor is it an option for me to jail anyone, or to extract information from suspects. Most of us do not have jobs like this. We simply do not have the power to infringe on other citizens rights the way police officers do.
I would like to think that you make this poor analogy because you are fortunate enough not to have been on the receiving end of corrupt police attention.
I grew up in the deep south, and live in Oakland Ca. So I have some passing familiarity with what police abuse of power looks like.

RE: all part of a pattern
By Adonlude on 11/27/2012 5:40:15 PM , Rating: 2
I too have been on the receiving end of abusive Jack Booted Thugs. Many JBT's will lie so that they can perform an illegal search. They will even go so far as to play Judge Dread and assault you when nobodies looking if they think you are guilty. Police need to be monitored and we need to fight to reverse the police state that is forming. Most cops act like they are some special privilaged class of citizen and that has to stop. Police are the same as citizens only they have a couple extra legal protections, some of which they shouldn't even have. Citizens can carry guns, citizens can arrest, the only difference is citizens don't have blanket legal protection if their arrest is bogus.

RE: all part of a pattern
By michael67 on 11/28/2012 3:08:34 PM , Rating: 2
Personally i think a video cam should be mandatory for every cop that on the job, it has huge benefits for both sides.

- There is no question of (intentional) wrong full testimony of eider side.
- Complaints against the police go down if people see there own behavior.
- Cops also behave better according to the law.
- Conviction rate go's up with stronger evidence.
- Questionable actions can be judged in the right light(*)

(*) In case of for example, of a police officer shooting a unarmed suspect, did the suspect behaved like he was reaching for a gun or not, as now it often comes down to police testimony.

In Holland its not illegal to videotape a police, what is illegal is publishing it out of context.

Like putting up a video of a cop only hitting a suspect, but without the sequence of events before the cop hit the suspect, like kicking and spitting or what ever fiscal or verbal abuse preceded it.

Having police waring a video cam all the time when they are on the job would imho clear up many misunderstanding and ensure that at least the cops behave them self's in a way they are suppose to do, and as long as they behave properly they also have a better defense against wrongful accusations of misconduct.

We had on a central bus station, after a report of a armed man walking around, a officer shooting a unarmed north African man, for two weeks the officer was accused of misconduct in the newspaper.
Police shooting don't very often happen in Norway, so it was pretty big news.

But after 2 weeks some one that had bin on a holiday trip came back that had videotaped the incident on his mobile, ware you clearly could see the guy not following armed police instructions, and reaching in his pocket, even after the police warned the person in Norwegian and English to stop or they would shoot.

IMHO there would be only one winner with police waring cam's all the time, and that would be the truth.

RE: all part of a pattern
By GrammarPolice on 11/27/12, Rating: -1
RE: all part of a pattern
By GotThumbs on 11/27/2012 1:14:48 PM , Rating: 1
While I agree my spelling is not perfect, it has zero to do with the subject matter and your attempt to deflect the one-sided/prejudiced stance of this "News" story shows your inability to intelligently address what is the most important thing. Focusing on my spelling is about as intelligent as you hosing down the mailbox when its your house that's on fire. Misdirection is for people who can't debate at the same level or can't truly justify their point of view.

If all you can contribute is spelling critiques, then your input is of no real value IMO.

Best wishes on your GrammerPolice tasks. I just hope no one depends on you having to contribute anything substantial.

RE: all part of a pattern
By dark matter on 11/27/2012 4:46:44 PM , Rating: 2
Just be thankful he isn't the real police, he would have you arrested for what you've just said, as you're acting in an aggressive manner towards a police office.

RE: all part of a pattern
By GotThumbs on 11/28/2012 10:11:07 AM , Rating: 2
I fully understand that many of you will never get it or even see the other side of this "News" story. Ignorance is not a cold that can be cured in a week.

Any time I've been pulled over or interacted with a police officer during an accident investigation, I've never had a problem with police. If you treat people with respect and are mature enough to take responsibility for YOUR choices/actions (If you were speeding, don't get pissed at the police that you got caught), then life is much easier/pleasant for you and those around you.

The biggest problem (IMO) with many in today's american society, is simply a lack of self-accountability. I already know some/most of you will not agree, but I understand that. Because some/most of you are not adults and choose not to face the consequences of your own choices/actions in life. Its always someone else who is at fault for your issues/life failures. I understand that many of you who have a strong disdain
Disdain: The feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect; contempt.
for the police and that you have been victims all your life and the police are simply picking on you. Its much easier to blame others for your failures than to take responsibility yourself. Children often use this excuse as well.

Just don't be so ignorant to think that you deserve a greater level of respect from people, when you clearly fail to show respect for them. If you do, then you will continue to live your life as a victim.

Best wishes,

RE: all part of a pattern
By ebakke on 11/28/12, Rating: 0
RE: all part of a pattern
By GotThumbs on 11/28/2012 2:19:08 PM , Rating: 1
You have absolutely no idea what (if any) experiences any commenters here have had with police officers

That is an accurate statement,

BUT, I am also VERY, VERY, VERY confident that YOU and most of the commenters here have absolutely no idea what each/any police officer experiences daily/hourly while at thier job.

My main point was that people need to show some honest respect and understanding for these human beings. Police are not supermen or superwomen who are immune to bullets, knives or speeding cars. Each officer knows their life is at risk each time they go to work. How many of the commenters here today deal with that level of risk on the job. Do you have to worry about someone attacking/shooting you each time you meet with someone while working?

I'm not saying the police shouldn't be filmed, but when you have one or more "concerned citizens" swarming around the police scene, it can distract the officer's attention away from what they need to be focused on, and thus put their safety/life in jeopardy.

I realize that most people wouldn't think of this, because they are only thinking from their own point of view. Just speak with a police officer about some of their own experiences or just look through some YouTube videos of officers who have been attacked or shot during a stop. The problem is YOU, the citizen have no true understanding of what goes on in your city each day. The media does not report on every crime, attack, murder.

Think McFly....and not just from your point of view.

RE: all part of a pattern
By ebakke on 11/28/2012 3:09:08 PM , Rating: 2
You would be well served heeding your own advice.

You're also muddying the issue. No one here is arguing that individuals should be "swarming around the police scene" or putting an officer's "safety/life in jeopardy". We're not talking about interfering with investigations, or with an officer's ability to do his job. Obstructing an officer is already illegal. But an individual can do that with or without a video camera. Your current argument against videotaping is analogous to banning guns because some people killed others with them. Guns *can* be an instrument for murder. And a camera *could* be an instrument for obstruction. But both also have legitimate other purposes that should be protected. Further, laws should ban the act (murder, obstruction) and not the implementation (gun, knife, rope, etc).

Agreed. And as I stated yesterday, I don't care. It doesn't matter to me. The police are tasked with enforcing our laws with whatever rules or restrictions we place on them. They are given special powers and special abilities that the average citizen is not so that they may perform these duties. But ultimately they serve at our pleasure. If we demand they perform their jobs under a microscope, that's within our prerogative as it is OUR power that we have placed in them. We may certainly take it back, or place more limits upon it.

And at the end of the day, if the job becomes too difficult, people will stop doing it. Then we, as the employer, will have to reevaluate our offer.

RE: all part of a pattern
By GotThumbs on 11/28/2012 4:04:52 PM , Rating: 1

Enough said. You obviously believe police are sub-human adn are only here to do your bidding as you see fit. Do you kick dogs as well?

I'm done wasting my time here.

As I wrote earlier, Ignorance is not a cold that can be cured in a week.

Best wishes on finding a cure

RE: all part of a pattern
By ebakke on 11/28/2012 5:56:01 PM , Rating: 2
No, I don't believe that. Stop putting words in my mouth, and read the ones I'm typing!

Acknowledgement of the relationship between a citizen and a civil servant isn't anywhere remotely close to the equivalent of me believing police are sub-human. Nor is it equivalent to violence upon another being.

Stop acting like a petulant child. It's fine that we have different opinions. The whole point of a forum like this is that we can share those opinions with one another. You keep stomping your feet and decreeing that anyone who doesn't think as you do is some ignorant fool. It's your behavior that's appearing foolish. Defend your positions. Counter mine. Screaming "I'm right, and you're wrong, POOPY HEAD!" is useless.

I leave you with this question, which I admittedly have no expectation you'll give a thoughtful answer: How are police, judges, politicians, and members of the military not here to do our bidding as we see fit? All of those groups exist to serve the public, do they not?

RE: all part of a pattern
By Piiman on 12/1/2012 2:39:03 PM , Rating: 2
The guy was standing far away and filming. The Cops broke the law and made up charges to justify arresting him.

Its a good thing he had film.

Yet you still support not filming cops? What did he do wrong? Did he insult the cops, did he even say anything? He only refused to follow an unlawful order. I say filming is good.

RE: all part of a pattern
By ebakke on 11/27/2012 5:35:54 PM , Rating: 2
Best wishes on your GrammerPolice tasks.
Aww hell, now you've invited the SpellingPolice into this mess too!

RE: all part of a pattern
By MechanicalTechie on 11/27/2012 6:16:53 PM , Rating: 1
Firstly if you could see further than the end of your nose you would realise that by refusing to allow Law Enforcement to be taped your suggestion you have something to hide.

Secondary being filmed has no bearing on how you do your job unless they are physically obstructing you. You work in the public domain and hold powers that can alter the path of someone’s life so the public needs a way to protect itself against false allegations or brutality.

Thirdly like it or not Law Enforcement must lead by example but you think the best way to accomplish is to work in secrecy?
Your a fool if you think only police have some people who are bad
You’re a real Sherlock Holmes aren’t you... but if you re-read what i said. you'll find it says
'like every other agency or industry '
And finally, Yes there cameras at my work and I have learnt to live with it.

RE: all part of a pattern
By Schrag4 on 11/28/2012 10:46:16 AM , Rating: 2
I wish to god that all police took one week sick leave....then you pansies would have lots to film.

People in the bluest states might face some difficulty, but a lot of us would be just fine for one week. I suspect if criminals decided they'd go on a rampage because they knew they had a week free of police, there would be a lot of dead criminals at the end of the week, in the freer states anyway.

Besides, you basically got your wish, it was the aftermath of hurricane Sandy. I remember seeing a news story about Sandy victims requesting firearms so they could ward off looters. Since police can't get to my house for several minutes (or longer, realistically), my wife and I will take our right to defend our family seriously. I'm continually astonished at people who think that dialing 911 when faced with those intent on killing you will do more than get the coronor's van there before your body turns cold, except in very rare circumstances.

RE: all part of a pattern
By Jeffk464 on 11/27/2012 12:29:31 AM , Rating: 5
Whatever happened to if you aren't doing anything wrong then you shouldn't mind be taped and spied on? I guess this only goes one way.

RE: all part of a pattern
By jeepga on 11/27/2012 9:04:16 AM , Rating: 2
Yes. I want to live in a world where people are free to do what they want. The alternative is living in a world where other people tell you what you can do.

RE: all part of a pattern
By RufusM on 11/28/2012 2:04:32 PM , Rating: 2
True freedom is anarchy and not many people want that.

I would argue that most people want reasonable laws that provide some recourse for harm and, outside of that, the freedom to do what they want.

There seems to be a growing number of people who want to limit existing freedoms under misguided notions that everyone needs to be protected from themselves.

RE: all part of a pattern
By RufusM on 11/27/2012 10:13:29 AM , Rating: 3


RE: all part of a pattern
By GotThumbs on 11/28/12, Rating: 0
RE: all part of a pattern
By RufusM on 11/28/2012 1:27:36 PM , Rating: 2
You and I are in partial agreement. Yes, there are many adults that chose to act badly. Those people face consequences from both the police/judicial system and society at large. After all, who wants to hire a convicted felon.

The difference I point to is a larger difference in the powers of the citizens and the police. A citizen cannot legally detain and imprison someone if they chose to, because they will likely be caught and punished for it. A police officer can work from within the police authority powers to detain, frame and imprison someone with a very small chance they will be caught and punished.

Again, both are acting maliciously and illegally in the examples but because the police are working from within the power structure, they have a much, much higher probability of getting away with it. Yes, police are held to a higher standard when performing their duties.

RE: all part of a pattern
By schmandel on 11/29/2012 10:59:35 AM , Rating: 1
Thanks for letting showing us how simple it all really is. What's it like to live in fear?

