Why Does "Some" Law Enforcement Resist This?

[twyacht]

Television shows like COPS, have been around for a long time now. Why are they (some, LEO agencies), so against potential defendants, suspects, (remember innocent till proven guilty),  filming raids, no-knock warrants, etc,...

Little perspective for analysis:

Thoughts?

[TAB]

All the cops I know that are on the "up and up"  want cameras and  activly recomend citz have cameras.  The ones that are not on the up and up, don't want them.  Funny huh?

The unions also don't want them.  Then again, there was a state on the east coast, that tried to make DUI a felony.  Guess which group spent the most money to fight the law?   That states LEO union.  You would think they would be spending money to get that law passed.  Nope, if you have a felony, you can't be a LEO...

[twyacht]

Just wondering why LEO can film civilians/suspects/training, for TV shows, and such,  but if the civilian/suspect films back there is a problem with some in the LE biz...

[TAB]

Just wondering why LEO can film civilians/suspects/training, for TV shows, and such,  but if the civilian/suspect films back there is a problem with some in the LE biz...

you can not be on a COPS unless you sign a wavier.  (after the fact)  unless they don't show your face.(depending on state laws)  Which I think is wrong.   Now cops should be able to video tape you during "professional contact" and you should be able to video them.  They should only be able to use those tapes for court and training purposes with out your writeen permission.

[m25operator]

This is a no brainer, the door should swing both ways, you can record me, with voice and I should be able to do the same, I totally approve of the use of car cameras for LE, it has proved very valuable in both what occurred for prosecution, exoneration and training. So many LE videos of traffic stops and during the ticket writing, someone else running into the police car or emergency vehicle. I totally agree that anyone being investigated or during arrest has the right to be videoed, I do not agree, in most instances with no knock warrants, I do understand, sometimes that is the only way, especially here in Dallas, where the whole neighborhood is hooked up, 10 yr olds with cell phones as look outs, to warn when the Swat is on its way, and a lot of superior drug dealers here have reinforced their homes, with entry cages, bust through a door, and you will find yourself in a wrought iron cage, that needs to be unlocked, trapped and tunneled, so they will often tear off whole sides of houses instead of going through doors. I would almost rather have the audio, than the video, context is difficult without it.

[Sponsor]

[cookie62]

In illinois you can vidio tape them, but no audio. If you record audio it falls under wire tap laws.

[billt]

Most of this kind of stuff involving law enforcement is all one way. "Dash Cams" along with cameras recording both audio and video in police stations and interview rooms have been the norm for years. Turn a camera on a cop and most will start screaming. In many states it's illegal. This is another video of the motorcycle guy that is facing felony charges along with a possible 5 YEAR sentence for recording this with his "Helmet Cam" on his motorcycle. Total nonsense. The first words out of his mouth should have been "POLICE!", not "Get Off The Motorcycle"! What's with the gun in the first place? The guy is straddling a motorcycle with both hands on the handlebars wrapped in leather.  Bill T.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNcDGqzAB30&feature=related

[billt]

A perfect example where video would have been indispensable is in the Eric Scott shooting in Las Vegas by Las Vegas Metro Police. This thing has gotten very controversial with police delaying the inquest, citizens paying for billboards asking the cops why they're not talking, etc. This type of thing destroys the relationship between citizens and police. It's getting worse every day.   Bill T.

[r_w]

Confluence of "best intentions" and CYA

There were issues with the mob and gangs filming officers to mark them for hits.  That sucks, but part of the job. 

The CYA part is from "less than stellar" LEOs not wanting evidence.  That part sucks and shouldn't be true. 

[tt11758]

As a former LEO, I have mixed emotions on the whole video thing.

Dashcams are wonderful tools for the protection of both officer and citizen alike, not to mention a great source of evidence once things get to court.  Of course, not every squad car in the country is equipped with dashcams because, although the unit prices are pretty affordable, the necessity of equipping several (or even several thousand) cars with such equipment can be a budget buster for many agencies, in these tough economic times.

As for citizens taping interactions with police, here's where my mixed emotions REALLY kick in.  If the recording is used for a legitimate purpose (read that as, "used in court to substantiate or refudiate charges), then I'm all in favor, PROVIDING THERE IS A CONTEXT FOR THAT RECORDING.  "Gotcha" recordings (incomplete video depictions of a particular incident designed to make an officer look bad, or otherwise advance an agenda) not so much.

Remember the Rodney King video?  The only part of that tape the public every saw began AFTER King resisted arrest, even going so far as assaulting the officers.  SO in essence, these officers MAY have been crucified unjustly..  Then again, they may not have, we just don't know......which is my point.

Other videos that I see as problematic as to their relevance in any given situation are those that LACK audio.  The video shown in that piece where the mounted officers "beat the hell out of" the young man after a college football win may have been uncalled for, but how do we know without hearing what was said BEFORE they left horseback?  Did he verbally threaten the officers?  Did he tell them he had a gun in his pocket and was gonna shoot them all?  The tape doesn't tell us that.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that, while the police dashcams provide a COMPLETE video and audio record of a LEO/citizen interaction, there's no way to know if videos recorded by citizens are a complete, accurate record, or an attempt by someone who got a speeding ticket this morning, to give cops a bad name.

Not all LEOs are honest honorable people who should be wearing the badge.  Likewise, not all civilians are honest honorable people whose video evidence should be accepted without question.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.