Small Victory: Atlanta PD won't (Can't) hinder citizens who videotape cops

APD won't hinder citizens who videotape cops

Link: AJC.com

This is great news.

In this particular case, a man, who is a part of Cop Watch, was on a public sidewalk filming a drug bust with his cell phone. The cops approached him and told him he had no right to film them. They then proceeded to forcefully take his phone, after bending his arm behind his back, and either delete or corrupt the video file! The man, Kautz, sued.

"Just about anything the police are doing out in the public, they should be comfortable being videotaped because they’re simply performing their duties," [Emory University Law Professor] Levine said. "If some aren’t comfortable with it, it makes you wonder why."

It most definitely makes you wonder why, which is what we have all been saying from the beginning and which also echos the government: if you have nothing to hide, what's the problem?!

Finally a police department recognizing (or being forced to recognize) that there is a LAW in place that protects and lawfully allows citizens to film police in their duties.

From another source:

Atlanta police released a statement saying, "Commanders have made it clear that Atlanta police officers in the field should not interfere with a citizen's right to film them while they work in public areas."

Emphasis added.

It took a lawsuit to reinforce the constitutional rights of citizens--rights that they already had!!

"It's really kind of outrageous it took this much work to get APD to come in line with what was already constitutional rights," said Kautz.

A law that ALLOWS citizens to film police in the execution of their duties! But the police do not like to be filmed and/or they were ignorant of the law. Now, how can the police enforce the law if they do not KNOW the law?

This is why people must stand up for their rights so that there rights are not trampled. The old cliche, "give and inch, take a mile," the government is moving in in anyway it can to restrict our freedom. Even if one has a legal reason to do something one must reaffirm one's right lest those rights get taken away.

It's a good thing this guy did not give up, although he had the backing of cop-watch, we should all remember this.

Now, let's just hope that the APD adheres to this, which because of this (Atanta OKs Surveillance Center), even the police will be inadvertently monitored (unless those who monitor conveniently delete files).

What say you?

Score one for our Constitutional Rights.

Its about time SOMEONE did something. I'm just surprised it was the Police Dept. and not the Supreme Court.

I just gained some respect for the APD.

It's hard to believe that the officers in question don't see this as a useful tool.

Filming a scene is increasing the evidence at hand and could potentially prove in court that an officer was acting professionally.

PTX

Originally posted by Planet teleX
It's hard to believe that the officers in question don't see this as a useful tool.

Filming a scene is increasing the evidence at hand and could potentially prove in court that an officer was acting professionally.

PTX

It's actually pretty easy to believe, all you have to do is add two letters to your above statement.

"Filming a scene is increasing the evidence at hand and could potentially prove in court that an officer was acting unprofessionally."

And that is why...

Kudos to the APD.

Since this is such a widespread problem, I'd like to see this type of language incorporated into state laws. I know it shouldn't have to be that way, but so may LEOs don't seem to know what rights a citizen has. If police can be found guilty of violating state law, it would embed it more into their consciousness.

We do indeed have a Constitutional right to document the activities of our public servants. This right is the only true exersize of the checks and balances to corruption and abuse of power, be it held by a police officer, or a building code inspector.

ANY statute or ordinance whice countermants that right is unLAWful, and MUST be opposed, and the most efficient method is by video recording until the emerging Police State is disolved/beaten, or we run out of RAM... whichever occurs first.

Kudos to those willing to risk TPTB to take them to task.

Originally posted by Planet teleX
It's hard to believe that the officers in question don't see this as a useful tool.

Filming a scene is increasing the evidence at hand and could potentially prove in court that an officer was acting professionally.

PTX

Exactly as Unit541 said. When they rough people up, beat them and slam them to the ground, and plant drugs on them, they do not want the cameras around.