Memphis police release new policies regarding photographing police
- Thread starter nikonosguy
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 18
- Views 3K
rivercityrocker
Well-known
Wow. That's impressive considering how draconian the laws are getting. Most laws being passed are attempting to prohibit John Q. Public from recording police activity.
Chris101
summicronia
I know! When I read the thread title I was ready for some authoritarian bs. But this seems to be a well thought out policy, protecting both the ability of the police to do their job, and of the public, to exercise their rights.
However, of course, the devil is in the details.
willie_901
Veteran
Kudos to the Memphis Police Dept. for instructing their officers to uphold the Constitution.
I found the following interesting:
"The policy outlines what MPD officers “shall not” do if a person, who is legally allowed to be there, is recording. For instance, officers can’t demand an ID, detain the person, demand the person stop recording, or demand an explanation of why the person is recording."
In 2005 I was questioned by a very polite officer (not a rental cop) when I was photographing a large sculpture in a public location. He asked me if I wouldn't mind telling him why I was photographing that morning. I told him I wanted to document the sculpture. He said thanks, enjoy your morning. I had my ID ready when I saw him stop and approach me and I offered it to him. He said, "I don't need to see your ID, thanks." He said sooner or later somebody would call in reporting a photographer was taking a lot of photos and he just wanted to give the dispatcher something to tell them.
Rental cops are a completely different matter. They have no idea about the First Amendment.
I found the following interesting:
"The policy outlines what MPD officers “shall not” do if a person, who is legally allowed to be there, is recording. For instance, officers can’t demand an ID, detain the person, demand the person stop recording, or demand an explanation of why the person is recording."
In 2005 I was questioned by a very polite officer (not a rental cop) when I was photographing a large sculpture in a public location. He asked me if I wouldn't mind telling him why I was photographing that morning. I told him I wanted to document the sculpture. He said thanks, enjoy your morning. I had my ID ready when I saw him stop and approach me and I offered it to him. He said, "I don't need to see your ID, thanks." He said sooner or later somebody would call in reporting a photographer was taking a lot of photos and he just wanted to give the dispatcher something to tell them.
Rental cops are a completely different matter. They have no idea about the First Amendment.
jsrockit
Moderator
Yeah, I see this too. They think all photography is illegal. I had a guy tell me that a public street in NYC is private property. I said, ok, where are the signs saying so. No answer except that he was right. I did what I wanted to and told him to call the police if he liked.
willie_901
Veteran
I also tell people to leave me alone and call the police.
zuiko85
Veteran
Now all that policy needs is an addition of possible consequences for ignoring this policy.
Such as; possible internal disciplinary actions up to and including dismisal from the police force.
That such violations could also leave the police dept and individual officers open to a civil suit and adverse monetary judgements.
Such as; possible internal disciplinary actions up to and including dismisal from the police force.
That such violations could also leave the police dept and individual officers open to a civil suit and adverse monetary judgements.
nikonosguy
Well-known
this is where it escalated
http://wreg.com/2013/11/04/men-accuse-officers-of-harrassment-over-cellphone-video/
http://wreg.com/2013/11/04/men-accuse-officers-of-harrassment-over-cellphone-video/
hepcat
Former PH, USN
Police agencies' actions directly reflect the attitudes of their management. Kudos to the Memphis Police Department's management for clarifying for their employees the First Amendment rights of the public.
Well done.
Well done.
Monochrom
Well-known
automony of police is in direct harm of personal freedom...police think itself as another independent power of the state that cannot be oversee by civilians...and that i BS...
redisburning
Well-known
having lived in Memphis for 5 years, I learned that the best defense to speeding, taking photographs in restricted areas or really much of anything is to just be white.
part of why I will NEVER go back, despite having treated 240 like my own personal autobahn.
part of why I will NEVER go back, despite having treated 240 like my own personal autobahn.
charjohncarter
Veteran
Seems reasonable to me, but what I don't understand is: how when I walk into a building with a camera around my neck, and while I'm explaining my reasons to the guards or other personnel, 20 people walk past with photo-phones.
nikonosguy
Well-known
385 is better. Bill Morris Pkwy. Right now I can hear the crotch rocket biker "clubs" revving it up on 240 though it's miles away.
Memphis is a tough town.
35mmdelux
Veni, vidi, vici
Kudos to the Memphis decision makers. I'm glad they decided to align themselves with the US Constitution and shared those expectations with the officers in form of a policy statement.
Addy101
Well-known
What do you mean by this? It is nonsensical to me. The police in democratic states always is overseen by civilians - either by elected officials or by a democratic entity like a city council or parliament. If you don't like your police, vote different 😎
Anyway, good of the Memphis police department to do this. Looking at the complaints about police officers, more police departments should inform their employees!
Ronald M
Veteran
Most interesting. Cameras are everywhere recording the public, but we can not record the police. Why. They be afraid of law suits because of misconduct and there is not much better evidence than a video.
I know in Chicago you get shot for almost anything. The excuse being I thought the cell phone was a gun. Or they have a previously confiscated illegal gun they will place in your cold hand. Commonly known as a throw down.
The prudent but cowardly thing to do is move on. Do not deal with the police or make them nervous. They have a tough dangerous job and are edgy most of the time. After years of this, they get over trained like football players or solderers in combat too long. They make mistakes when in this condition.
I know in Chicago you get shot for almost anything. The excuse being I thought the cell phone was a gun. Or they have a previously confiscated illegal gun they will place in your cold hand. Commonly known as a throw down.
The prudent but cowardly thing to do is move on. Do not deal with the police or make them nervous. They have a tough dangerous job and are edgy most of the time. After years of this, they get over trained like football players or solderers in combat too long. They make mistakes when in this condition.
cassel
Well-known
This is an old (more than a year) thread... but how sad and timely the views of policing and public trust (or lack thereof) in light of a rough 2014🙁
ssmc
Well-known
Security and surveillance cameras that are owned by corporations and government entities (i.e. backed by $$$ and lawyers), which are for all practical purposes unaccountable to the individual.
Happy New Year :bang:
Scott
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
YES...That's the one that gets my goat...:bang:
Similar threads
- Locked
