Timmyjoe
Veteran
It is perfectly legal to photograph police officers in public places here in the States. Unfortunately many police officers either don't know that or don't care, as last night in Missouri the police assaulted and arrested a Huffington Post and a Washington Post photographer.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/13/filming-police-officers_n_5676940.html
Has anyone had a run-in with police when you were filming in a public place?
Best,
-Tim
uhoh7
Veteran
Looks more like fallujah than ferguson.....yikes.
back alley
IMAGES
It is perfectly legal to photograph police officers in public places here in the States. Unfortunately many police officers either don't know that or don't care, as last night in Missouri the police assaulted and arrested a Huffington Post and a Washington Post photographer.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/13/filming-police-officers_n_5676940.html
Has anyone had a run-in with police when you were filming in a public place?
Best,
-Tim
…should make that into a t-shirt...
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Yeah, I agree.
Conflicting reports as to who was assaulted and arrested. Definitely one person from Huffington Post and one from Washington Post, but some reports say they were photographers, or at least photographing the police at the time, and others say they were "reporters", which means they may not have been photographing at the time.
Also, a news camera crew that was filming in Ferguson got tear gassed by the police.
Best,
-Tim
Conflicting reports as to who was assaulted and arrested. Definitely one person from Huffington Post and one from Washington Post, but some reports say they were photographers, or at least photographing the police at the time, and others say they were "reporters", which means they may not have been photographing at the time.
Also, a news camera crew that was filming in Ferguson got tear gassed by the police.
Best,
-Tim
rscheffler
Well-known
Police ignorance about photography is certainly a documented problem. A related problem hinted at in the story is the general (American) public's ignorance/misconception about privacy rights relative to photography in public places.
back alley
IMAGES
it's amazing how many people think they have a right to privacy while being in a public space...
bsdunek
Old Guy with a Corgi
And, from the looks of it, it's going to get worse.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
The CRS in France in May 68 weren't much fun but it looks like they were pussy cats next to this lot. But that's what you get when you militarize the police. Even quite piddly police departments buy seriously military kit: Clanton, AL, for example.
Redefining "policing" as "war" can attract the wrong kind of policemen.
Cheers,
R.
Redefining "policing" as "war" can attract the wrong kind of policemen.
Cheers,
R.
filmtwit
Desperate but not serious
To my last recollection their is nothing illegal concerning a police officer "asking" you or me to stop filming/videoing them.
The act of asking isn't illegal it's the enforcement of it.
The act of asking isn't illegal it's the enforcement of it.
semordnilap
Well-known
There's a "right" kind of policeman?
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Yes. Respectful, and remembering that he is, in the old formula, a "civilian in uniform". Not a soldier or avenger or minor deity.
Cheers,
R.
Addy101
Well-known
Yes, most are. The policeman who gives first aid after a car accident, the policeman who stops a robbery in progress, the policeman who arrests a murderer. What kind of policeman are you talking 'bout?
Most cops in the western world are okay.
semordnilap
Well-known
Things a bit different in Europe, perhaps?
Bob Michaels
nobody special
After being told by a local policeman, who was backed by the Chief of Police, that I could not photograph at our local fair, I replied that this was not the time (Sunday) nor the place to resolve this. I told them I would follow up at City Hall during normal business hours.
I made all further communications with the Chief direct to his office and only by official letter. No personal visits, no phone calls, only letters. This gave him time to consult the City Attorney. When he would not directly acknowledge the departmental error, I wrote him stating that the lack of a direct response from them would be construed as an admission of their error and acknowledgement that I had the constitutional right to photograph whenever and wherever. There was no further response.
Brian Legge
Veteran
There is an growing number of people who seem to believe that a substantial percentage of the police in the US are the bad kind and the rest are just as bad for failing to fix the situation.
The overlap between people with this view and people who believe the voting exists purely to give people the illusion of power, that all sides are rotten to the core is substantial. Early in the Ukrainian conflict, these people were calling for people in the US to violently rise up against the government in a similar manner.
I'm hearing similar messaging from people with varying political affiliations (libertarians who are antigovernment/independent, Occupy style leftists who are against corporate/government collusion, right wing types who view this is a precursor to centralized police state and eventual world government, etc). The flamed are being fanned from all sides, with spin in every direction.
The police (good and bad) are stuck in the middle of it. They're going to continue to become larger targets unless there is some sort of national shift in attitude about the situation and government.
The overlap between people with this view and people who believe the voting exists purely to give people the illusion of power, that all sides are rotten to the core is substantial. Early in the Ukrainian conflict, these people were calling for people in the US to violently rise up against the government in a similar manner.
I'm hearing similar messaging from people with varying political affiliations (libertarians who are antigovernment/independent, Occupy style leftists who are against corporate/government collusion, right wing types who view this is a precursor to centralized police state and eventual world government, etc). The flamed are being fanned from all sides, with spin in every direction.
The police (good and bad) are stuck in the middle of it. They're going to continue to become larger targets unless there is some sort of national shift in attitude about the situation and government.
semordnilap
Well-known
I was half-joking, and honestly I've had pleasant and positive interactions with plenty of policepersons in my time. But I think that, in the states at least, there is an authoritarian attitude that presents itself, that many police, for want of a better description, seem to enjoy. Roger's comment is spot-on, and it's a lot about behavior and respect. I don't think most cops are on the take or anything like that, but I do think that many of them enjoy the position of power that they are in. That enjoyment is wrong; it is authoritarian—they should be very aware of their powerful position as well as that they serve as employees of the people, and thus carry themselves in a more deferential manner. Instead, many expect respect simply for being police officers and carrying a gun, rather than for being decent people and behaving well.
So while it valid to posit that a militarized police may attract the wrong kind of person, perhaps it is not the militarization, but rather the position of authority that attracts the authoritarian personality.
Apologies if I've offended anyone with my offhand comments.
NY_Dan
Well-known
Police are supposed to behave in a certain way, and so are citizens. When one or both misbehaves we have chaos in varying degrees.
Ferguson -- young men when asked to walk on the sidewalk instead of the street should comply. Police officers should never let situations escalate. Officer f-ed up. Communities shouldn't tear themselves apart or allow others to.
Reporters in hot zones should have more street smarts. And making the story about the reporter instead of that which is being reported upon is not the best example of quality journalism.
Have I ever had a "negative" experience with a police officer while taking street photos? Yes. I was photographing some FDNY paramedics assisting a homeless man. There were several police officers present, and one had a bug up his butt, and told me not to take photos. I knew my behavior was legal and took a few more shots. He gave me a dirty look. If I were in an isolated area I wouldn't have taken more photos -- because being legal wouldn't have helped me -- the reason being this particular officer was in a bad mood.
I've photographed police officers in NYC without problems. I will often ask if they mind -- because they might work undercover and not want photos of themselves in uniform lest their cover be compromised. Trying not to be an a-hole is a good policy -- but if the photo is good -- I mean too good not to shoot, then as a photographer, that's that for me. We do our best to read the situation. Being right isn't always worth the effort.
The worst people regarding threatening or "hating on" photographers I've found to be other photographers.
Bottom line: Whatever, that's life!
The public -- yeah, a great many are ignorant of the laws regarding street photography. I won't be surprised if sometime in the not to distant future, the laws are changed making street photography illegal, or severely compromising same.
Ferguson -- young men when asked to walk on the sidewalk instead of the street should comply. Police officers should never let situations escalate. Officer f-ed up. Communities shouldn't tear themselves apart or allow others to.
Reporters in hot zones should have more street smarts. And making the story about the reporter instead of that which is being reported upon is not the best example of quality journalism.
Have I ever had a "negative" experience with a police officer while taking street photos? Yes. I was photographing some FDNY paramedics assisting a homeless man. There were several police officers present, and one had a bug up his butt, and told me not to take photos. I knew my behavior was legal and took a few more shots. He gave me a dirty look. If I were in an isolated area I wouldn't have taken more photos -- because being legal wouldn't have helped me -- the reason being this particular officer was in a bad mood.
I've photographed police officers in NYC without problems. I will often ask if they mind -- because they might work undercover and not want photos of themselves in uniform lest their cover be compromised. Trying not to be an a-hole is a good policy -- but if the photo is good -- I mean too good not to shoot, then as a photographer, that's that for me. We do our best to read the situation. Being right isn't always worth the effort.
The worst people regarding threatening or "hating on" photographers I've found to be other photographers.
Bottom line: Whatever, that's life!
The public -- yeah, a great many are ignorant of the laws regarding street photography. I won't be surprised if sometime in the not to distant future, the laws are changed making street photography illegal, or severely compromising same.
dmc
Bessa Driver
I feel it is important to not miss the point that, while we all know good and bad police officers, the nature of policing has changed over the last decade or so. The reasons are varied, war on drugs, anti-terrorism, large city "broken window" campaigns, etc. The fact is, many, many police departments are changing from the old "Scotland Yard" protect the peace to a very visible para-military organization. With this change comes a completely different attitude towards the very people they are sworn to protect. "Serve and Protect" seems to be less and less important these days. I think the treatment of these journalists is just a small symptom of this. Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner
Bob Michaels
nobody special
I have been told by the Cuban National Police on several occasions not to photograph when there appeared there was no reason.
My response is always the same "Si, Senor. No problema." Then I walk away. I have already wasted too much time inside Cuban police stations.
Bill Pierce
Well-known
I don't want to interrupt this thread and start another, but an old friend that I see when he gets to this country is the subject of a Lens pierce in the NY Times. I think you'll enjoy it and probably benefit from it (then return to this thread).
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/...of-wartime-france/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/...of-wartime-france/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0