We all know you are anti-cop. If you want to debate any real issues in this thread fire away but don't waste my time.

 

Who unleashed theguru? Not used to seeing you in these threads.

Look Closely: Can You Tell These Cellphones Are Actually Weapons in Disguise? | Video | TheBlaze.com

 

 

Thanks.

 

In general, do you think officers need more/better training on citizen's rights when filming and how to handle those situations?

 

So many of these situations that foster bad feelings toward the police could be avoided if they did not react to filming the way that they do.

 

You realize police contact people millions and millions of times a year right? For every one contact that looks bad on video (some of those aren't necessarily bad...just look bad out of context) there are probably 100 that never make YouTube because nothing happened.

In general, do you think officers need more/better training on citizen's rights when filming and how to handle those situations?

 

So many of these situations that foster bad feelings toward the police could be avoided if they did not react to filming the way that they do.

 

You know, this stuff frustrates me. Where I worked citizens being allowed to film officers doing anything and everything in a public place was a new officer training subject. These officers nationwide that break bad on citizens for exercising their legal rights to film officers certainly gives the profession a bad name. So to answer your question, yes the National FOP or some other national governing body needs to send out a simple bulletin educating/reminding all police officers on this issue.

 

However, the bigger issue to me is the citizens need to be educated that they have every right to film officers but it needs to be from a safe distance. I realize "safe distance" is a huge gray area so it is going to be up to greater minds to come up with a model policy.

 

And for the record, 20 feet away from any officer conducting official business would be a bare minimum.

You know, this stuff frustrates me. Where I worked citizens being allowed to film officers doing anything and everything in a public place was a new officer training subject. These officers nationwide that break bad on citizens for exercising their legal rights to film officers certainly gives the profession a bad name. So to answer your question, yes the National FOP or some other national governing body needs to send out a simple bulletin educating/reminding all police officers on this issue.

 

However, the bigger issue to me is the citizens need to be educated that they have every right to film officers but it needs to be from a safe distance. I realize "safe distance" is a huge gray area so it is going to be up to greater minds to come up with a model policy.

 

And for the record, 20 feet away from any officer conducting official business would be a bare minimum.

 

I would think 50 feet would be even better. Even a cell phone camera should be able to take decent video from that distance. I think a lot of the negative publicity could be prevented if officers were given better training in dealing with people filming.

I would think 50 feet would be even better. Even a cell phone camera should be able to take decent video from that distance. I think a lot of the negative publicity could be prevented if officers were given better training in dealing with people filming.

 

50 feet is about what it should be.

 

And for all you naysayers that want to pile on the 50 foot rule, an officers safety far far far far far outweighs a citizens right to film.

 

Maybe we can hope for something like a National "25 and Alive" Campaign - Stay 25 Feet away from working Police Officers at all times

You realize police contact people millions and millions of times a year right? For every one contact that looks bad on video (some of those aren't necessarily bad...just look bad out of context) there are probably 100 that never make YouTube because nothing happened.

 

That doesn't much matter when the videos that make it online are so widely viewed. These videos are becoming an everyday occurrence and it is helping to inflame an already volatile environment.

In general, do you think officers need more/better training on citizen's rights when filming and how to handle those situations?

 

So many of these situations that foster bad feelings toward the police could be avoided if they did not react to filming the way that they do.

 

No. I think people need to stop being idiots and let the police do their job.

 

That doesn't much matter when the videos that make it online are so widely viewed. These videos are becoming an everyday occurrence and it is helping to inflame an already volatile environment.

 

Unfortunately there are a lot of stupid people that think because they see a few videos of police doing something they think is bad, that all police are bad or that there's an epidemic of police brutality in this country.

 

There are around 7 or 800k police in this country. Considering that they come into contact with the public millions and millions of times, even one bad occurrence per day would still be very rare.

 

Not to mention many of these everyday videos you speak of are recycled, and some of them are debatable as to whether the police actually did anything wrong.

No. I think people need to stop being idiots and let the police do their job.

 

I do agree that is by far the bigger issue but like I stated above there is no excuse for police officers not knowing the law on this issue.

people don't need to be informed on how to video anyone. The Supreme Court has all ready ruled on that. No one in a public place has a right to privacy. That includes the police.

people don't need to be informed on how to video anyone. The Supreme Court has all ready ruled on that. No one in a public place has a right to privacy. That includes the police.

 

It is not a privacy issue, it is a safety issue.

It is not a privacy issue, it is a safety issue.

 

What is to prevent an officer from simply moving people further and further away to the point they can't really see anything? If it's in the name of "safety" then it's going to be hard to argue in court and , really, no one is going to take it to court anyway.

What is to prevent an officer from simply moving people further and further away to the point they can't really see anything? If it's in the name of "safety" then it's going to be hard to argue in court and , really, no one is going to take it to court anyway.

 

Did you watch the video Clyde?

Did you watch the video Clyde?

 

Yes.