Recently, some law enforcement officials have announced plans to urge law makers to make it illegal to record police incidents via cell phones.

Would this be a good idea or set a bad precedence?

Bad.

I would think LEOs would want any and all interactions with the public recorded.

I guess there could be an issue with any editing but surely that could be found out I would think.

Ive seen videos where a cop would tell a bystander to shut their camera off....in a public place...thats just ridiculous.

VERY bad! There's way too many cops out there who think they're the lawmaker, judge, jury, and executioner. Since the courts typically 'side' with the cops in the first place (innocent till proven guilty my a$$), citizens need to be able to have their own proof of 'the truth'. Cops certainly tape incidents and use that in court (as long as it shows things in their favor), so why shouldn't we have the same courtesy?

I think they would also, hence the body cams.

Those law enforcement officials who object to being monitored by citizens claim that it undermines police work in that they fear taken out of content footage unfairly indicts police action and inspires public unrest.

However, prohibiting people from filming from cell phones would indeed border on arresting dissent and freedoms.

Bad Idea in my opinion.

Damn good points, I agree.

Why not just make it illegal to show "out of context" footage? Require that the entire video recorded (by either side) be played, and let the jury decide for themselves whether appropriate action was taken.
Of course, if you only recorded the especially incriminating bits - the point when a cop swatted a civilian with their baton, or when the civilian has already jumped on the cop - that probably shouldn't be admissible as hard evidence in a court of law. It proves nothing that the very act of bringing a charge against someone doesn't already "prove".

it's not just the jury, it's public opinion... if the video is edited like you said, then the public might do some stupid things like in Ferguson and Baltimore...

The latest I had heard was quite the opposite..that police
departments all over the country are getting head cams.

Keeps everyone somewhat honest I would think.

Body/head cams are getting more and more popular in depts and it's just a matter of time before all of them have one. I think the main reason there aren't more of them yet is just because of budget restrictions, especially in small towns. Which is also a primary reason that alot of those LEO's are only part-time and working for $8-12/hr. Kind of a catch 22 actually. The depts that can pay their cops $36-80k/yr and have cams generally have the 'better' cops who more often don't need 'big brother' while the poorer depts get the...... well...... you usually get what you pay for....

Their body and car cams only work when they turn them on...... and there always seems to be a problem when an incident is controversial....

There is a history of entities and institutions policing themselves and it's not a good one!

They work for us (supposedly), and are supposed to work within the law, keeping the law, so why would they be against being recorded in the course of that action if THEY have nothing to hide.

After all, they claim they must spy on ALL Americans to catch a terrorist. What's good for the goose should be more than fitting for the gander..... if it catches bad or corrupt officers of the laws meant to protect us.

I feel they have more than proven the need for that scrutiny of late!

They can buy military gear for civilian policing like MRAPs, drones, and such,, put cameras on every corner to spy on us, as well as stop light and traffic cams, but can't afford body cameras? You're kidding ....... right?

Not all depts have traffic cams, military gear and such. In LOTS of smaller towns there is very little budget for much of anything. In more cases than you'd think, even a uniform allowance for officers high enough to where they don't end up paying for stuff out of their own pockets. Just recently in my town they had to take donations just to get K-9 unit.

Most "small towns" have very little crime so little need for such things, but that is NOT the case in the inner-cities or large metro areas where most of the police corruption, bad arrests, and officer related deaths, crimes and abuses are occurring

If an area can afford traffic cams, drones, and street corner cameras, there is no reason they can't afford body cameras

Many who do have them, they always seem to "malfunction" when needed

But then that is not what the OP was about other than why the need for civilians to record their actions. Without those recording by peoples cell phones, many of the recent charges against these bad officers and the deaths they've caused would never have seen the light of day..... and NotsoSharpton and Jackasson might have to get real jobs!!

There might be less crime in small towns, but there is still crime. If there wasn't, there wouldn't be a need for cops in the first place. And don't believe there isn't corruption in those small towns either. If anything, it might be worse than big cities for the pure fact that they aren't getting watched over as closely.

Yeah, funny how there's always a 'malfunction' when there's something that might not show something that's not in their favor.....

When you work for and get paid by the public (civil servant) they have a right to video what you do while you are in uniform. Be it the cop, the fireman, the sanitation, ect..

personally, would I like someone videoing me while I am working... no. I would find it unnerving... but they have the right. They are paying me.

precisely

Based on recent events where video conclusively proved that some cops lie, it makes total sense for anyone within earshot to pull out a phone and start recording. In fact, I would say it even makes sense for you to carry your own bodycam in a pocket.

If you know you are about to interact with the police (flashing rollers in the rear view mirror for example) take it out and fire it up.

In the case of cellphones, police will try to take them from you if you record an incident. I strongly suggest you send any recording immediately to the cloud, and then lock the phone with a password. A search warrant will be required to gain access to the phone. While waiting for the cop to produce a warrant you can send the video or call a lawyer. The cop simply can't be standing there ready to pounce when you unlock the phone to use it. You do not have to give them the password until the warrant is served to you. Make sure your read it COMPLETELY before handing over the phone as cops have been known to trick people by providing a pile of paper, saying it's a warrant and then pressuring you to comply.

Know the rights of the state you are in regarding such recordings and your legal obligations to provide them. I would say consult a lawyer long before you ever need to so you know EXACTLY what you can do and what police requests for recordings you can decline without a warrant being produced. They will threaten you with obstruction of justice, or failure to comply with a lawful police order, or something of that nature. Ask loudly (so others nearby can hear) if you are being detained, and if not walk away. If the cop says yes you are being detained until you comply with his request to hand over the phone, that's kidnapping and/or coercion and false imprisonment. Tell the cop if he fails to arrest you, that you will sue him personally and the department for $10 million. Then if he does arrest you, deal with that as a false arrest complaint and still sue for the $10 million. lol

Implants? Thats just too much I think.

I don't know.

What else would happen?

Would this lead to greater surveillance powers for the police and government?
If all of a sudden there's tons of personal witness video testimony would there be a greater need for "impartial" surveillance?

Would lawmakers say "well, people are recording anything anyway, so lets just install cameras in every single corner of public space to take away any bias. It'll create jobs and add to public safety! It's for the children!"

If it were made illegal, how would they enforce it?
Just not allow personal video to be allowed into evidence for a trial?
Or give cops the right to confiscate anyone's phone, or destroy them, or apprehend someone for just standing there taking video?
Maybe censor any and all news stations from running personal videos?


In theory it could be considered a good idea, since a lot of cell phone video is taken from a small segment of an incident and doesn't tell the whole story, and is constantly leaked to the media where it just incenses people into making bad choices.

But it would lead to far worse things, IMO.