Police Officer Who Threatened to Arrest Seattle Newspaper Editor Fired

[noisycheese]

Once in a great while, justice prevails when the police come down on a photographer.

Link: http://petapixel.com/2014/02/04/pol...est-photojournalist-fired-sherifs-department/

 

[68degrees]

Outstanding!

 

[noisycheese]

Update

Update

Here is the account of the original incident -


Link: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/ar...o-arrest-me-for-taking-their-photo-last-night

 

[Tom Diaz]

Evidently this particular officer has a long history of exceeding his authority in many kinds of situations.

I am sure that most of us who shoot street photographs in the U.S. have been harassed by police, for the noncrime of taking pictures. (If it hasn't happened to you yet, you're due.) I suspect that taking pictures has a special place in their minds.

Sometimes officers have been polite, but insistent, making me think they are not used to throwing their weight around but think there is something especially sinister about photographers.

Obviously I am glad this Seattle officer was disciplined, but I'd like to see a more general correction of police behavior toward photographers.

TD

 

[swoop]

This stuff happens all the time. Rumor mill is the NYPD has a standard $15k settlement whenever a credentialed member of the press is arrested. And a police officer deleting a journalists recorded material is actually a federal crime.

 

[biomed]

There are a lot of very honorable and dedicated officers in police forces throughout the country. The exceptions are what give them a bad name. The responsibility to deal with the bad apples lies with the leadership. This is an example of a good decision and not caving to the "good ol' boy" approach that associations such as the unions take. It is a hard job being a police officer and balance the use of force and good judgment in situations that can often be life threating. I have admiration for the many excellent officers and those in management positions that do the right thing.

 

[rpsawin]

Just to set the record straight the officer was a King County Deputy and not a Seattle Police Officer. Both organizations have fine members and a few "pricks". It is good to see them weeding out the members who continually are out of line. While it's maddening to deal with these folks at times I doubt many of us could do the job. They work under difficult regulations and almost microscopic scrutiny and they have my respect.

 

[68degrees]

This stuff happens all the time. Rumor mill is the NYPD has a standard $15k settlement whenever a credentialed member of the press is arrested. And a police officer deleting a journalists recorded material is actually a federal crime.

what is the legal definition of a journalist, so I can meet the definition and press charges in that event.

 

[charjohncarter]

These guys must have a long record of this kind of thing, in California it takes plenty to fire a public employee.

 

[zuiko85]

These days with so many camera phones 'rolling' recording such encounters I'd be suprised if more events don't wind up in action against bully cops. If their departments don't deal with such abuse then mucipilities may be faced with multi-million judgements from civil actions that come before juries.

I would also think it's the very cops who have too many negative encounters with ordanary citizens who would be most adverse and irritated about being caught on film. It is evidence of their abuse that they don't want to be recorded.

 

[68degrees]

These days with so many camera phones 'rolling' recording such encounters I'd be suprised if more events don't wind up in action against bully cops. If their departments don't deal with such abuse then mucipilities may be faced with multi-million judgements from civil actions that come before juries.

I would also think it's the very cops who have too many negative encounters with ordanary citizens who would be most adverse and irritated about being caught on film. It is evidence of their abuse that they don't want to be recorded.

thats why they are making laws now that make it illegal to record police. On your other point I have to say that it is sad they have to be motivated by multi million dollar lawsuits. Why cant they just do the right thing because its the right thing, and prosecute, and fire these cops on the spot. No paid leave bs either. Fired and jailed as the criminals they are.

 

[Mr_Toad]

YOW!

Y'all are being kinda harsh on the po-po's, don't ya think?

I mean... I'm a radical leftist, and even I'm shocked.

😱 <-- me...being shocked.

 

[NY_Dan]

Here's a photo of two friendly and professional NYPD policemen. They were even interested in my 1961 Rolleiflex 2.8f -- in a good way 🙂 I shot this last night (2/4/2014) in Times Square. TMY 120 Kodak film and vintage flashbulbs.

 

[Takkun]

These guys must have a long record of this kind of thing, in California it takes plenty to fire a public employee.

He had something like 22 disciplinary actions against him, including threatening to have DSHS take a couple's child after they accidentally turned into a bus station.

When I reported I didn't vilify cops and understood they dealt with the worst parts of society, are perpetually stretched thin, and are bound by a lot of ineffective or insensitive policies, but that never excuses bad behavior.
Glad I never had to deal with him (I spend a lot of time where this incident occurred), and glad someone as threatening as this is no longer in authority.

SPD (and again, this guy was KCSO, who has jurisdiction over bus and rapid transit here) has had a lot of problems with excessive force and profiling, but they're really trying hard to establish a good rapport.
Thankfully when I worked in Boston, every officer I encountered was professional, if not friendly. And I could easily understand why they wouldn't want to be friendly to a reporter, especially a photographer. Even if you're a good cop, you've got someone who has the potential to interfere with your job and make your life pretty miserable if you make the slightest mistake. I'm a big fan of police accountability, but I try to put myself in their shoes.
On my street, there's a major public housing project, a rail station, two halfway houses, and a hospice, and two weeks ago I was actually shot at leaving my home. I have respect for first responders who do their job well.

 

[68degrees]

YOW!

Y'all are being kinda harsh on the po-po's, don't ya think?

I mean... I'm a radical leftist, and even I'm shocked.

😱 <-- me...being shocked.

How can you condone what cops like this do?

 

[Phil_F_NM]

what is the legal definition of a journalist, so I can meet the definition and press charges in that event.

In this case you have to have a NYC press credential and be actually working.

thats why they are making laws now that make it illegal to record police. On your other point I have to say that it is sad they have to be motivated by multi million dollar lawsuits. Why cant they just do the right thing because its the right thing, and prosecute, and fire these cops on the spot. No paid leave bs either. Fired and jailed as the criminals they are.

The problem is that while we'd all like to think that law enforcement should operate 100% by a strict set of rules which we all know or we all think are just in our armchair quarterback position of reading about it on the web. Being a law enforcement officer is extraordinarily hard work. I've done it when I was in the Navy. There is no black and white when approaching any person simply due to the fact that the LEO may not go home that night depending upon the circumstances.

Yes, there are overzealous LEOs and hopefully through training and disciplinary action they will change but we also need a change in attitude towards law enforcement across the country. The sentiment is often that they are all overzealous and out to get folks when really all but a very small group are just doing a job they are very dedicated to in order to be civil servants. It's not a job you pick to sit back and collect a paycheck. It's hard work under often extreme stress in a culture that vilifies the LEO in spite of their desire to help the community.

I'm not saying there aren't bad seeds, I'm just saying that almost all of them are good ones and the only ones you hear about are the bad ones. Squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Phil Forrest

 

[Doug]

Well said, Phil, and thank you for your service. It's one thing to pass laws and another to interpret and rationally enforce them. In many years experience with our small local police dept as a Sgt in the reserves, and full time with the university police, I noted a great deal of integrity and devotion to protecting "our" people. It takes judgment - a fallible human sense - and there is a lot of public scrutiny. Any serious lapse reflects badly on the rest.

 

[zuiko85]

As I said, the cops who have problems being filmed would seem to not want their behavior to be recorded because it violates department policy. That sure would not be all police. I see that many patrol cars now have dash cameras that could serve the purpose of evidence in case a citizen files a complaint. The footage (there is an obsolete term) could clear the officer of wrongdoing. So filming (and context) could actually be of help to the police dept.

 

[Doug]

As I said, the cops who have problems being filmed would seem to not want their behavior to be recorded because it violates department policy. ...

And I think any such department policy, if it exists, would be unconstitutional. There is a balance, though... if the photographer got in the officers' way, it could be obstructing a public servant.

 

[zuiko85]

I think I was misunderstood.

When I said "..violates department policy" I did not mean recording encounters, but that police conduct at a stop would violate department policy and therefore he (or she) would not want his superiors to have evidence of his misconduct presented to them.