Taping the Police

[Ham_authority95]

I don't see the problem with recording whatever police officers do(unless it would ruin a drug bust, a gang arrest, anti-terrorist operation, murder investigation, etc etc).

The Police are our employees. They get paid by our tax money to do a job, so like any good manager, we need to make sure they do the job properly.

 

[Kortney]

So what do you guys think about the cops being on camera. I think it should absolutely be our right to record the actions of on duty police officers, inadvertently or intentionally, and be safe from punishment.

As do I. The reason why they don't want to be taped is because if they do something illegal they can be persecuted for it.

It may put some unneeded strain on them and it may leave them open to be judged by people who have no idea what they are talking about however.

 

[Carlan]

The only caveat I can see for this issue, the only reason cops should be protected from being taped on duty, is the opportunity for context, or rather the lack thereof. Aside from that, while wearing the uniform an officer must be subject to the highest forms of scrutiny.

 

[The King of Rock and Roll]

Isn't this just like forum moderation? Don't question it and it won't question you. We obviously should all just stay under the radar and never stir up trouble, God forbid we be branded a contrarian/troll/troublemaker/liberal/ect.

 

[wax88]

what this means is simple: want to be a crook? join the police. you can even get away with murder there.

 

[CouchCommando]

Yeah tricky subject, kind of makes me think how would I like a camera been jammed in my face at my work I'm all for police cars been fitted out with official cameras. And maybe even some form of light weight recorder been fitted to the officer themselves in future. But an interesting piece of footage could be taken by a member of the public say if an assailant off camera spat in an officers face and one was to record the inevitable following restraint with prejudice.

 

[ShadowKatt]

What's there to be conflicted about? No one should be above the law. If the police take things too far they should be held accountable for their actions. Even the president should be held accountable if he commits a crime. Giving the police unquestionable authority only serves to hurt us civilians as it allows injustices to be committed and go unpunished. Also any law restricting our freedom or serving to screw us over like these wiretapping laws the police are using to fuck over these guys with cameras need to be repealed or modified to something more appropriate for the technology available.

GOod luck with that. In order to take care of the police that are above the law(Which I feel I should qualify, as much as I'm wary of the police not all of them treat people in such ways. A lot of them do though) you need to first go after the congressmen who are above the law. And to get to them you need to go after the corperations that have enough money to buy laws and judges.

In the end, the whole system is broken, and needs to be torn down and rebuilt. The only problem is I can't come up with a replacement system yet. It needs to be one where the people in government fear the people, but short of the point of a gun I don't know how that would work.

 

[Del-Toro]

I've spoken with cops on multiple occasions, and have a few friends who are cops. (even though I'm only 16)

Really, its to protect their identity against stalkers and such. Most cops don't pull that crap though, it's only a select few, and higher ups such as military and riot control.

Clarify, it seems to me that you're suggesting that the military and riot police go around clubbing folks for no actual reason.

 

[DatCracker]

Sometimes, I think America is super awesome, and sometimes, I think it is one of the most stupid places in existence.
This time, it is the latter.

This, but replace "America" with "humanity" and "places" with "species."

 

[Penguinness]

snip

Clarify, it seems to me that you're suggesting that the military and riot police go around clubbing folks for no actual reason.

Well, some do like to beat up old people and women, or drag disabled people from their wheelchairs. Maybe their reason is that they get an adrenaline rush whilst doing their job, or just enjoy violence.

http://www.svaboda.org/video/13545.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUHzSQgayXY

"Kicked some fucking ass this sunday. nobody's protesting on monday."

 

[Del-Toro]

snip

Clarify, it seems to me that you're suggesting that the military and riot police go around clubbing folks for no actual reason.

Well, some do like to beat up old people and women, or drag disabled people from their wheelchairs. Maybe their reason is that they get an adrenaline rush whilst doing their job, or just enjoy violence.

http://www.svaboda.org/video/13545.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUHzSQgayXY

"Kicked some fucking ass this sunday. nobody's protesting on monday."

Well, there are assholes in every profession. I figured you were making a generalization about all cops and soldiers.

 

[Kakashi on crack]

-snip-.

Clarify, it seems to me that you're suggesting that the military and riot police go around clubbing folks for no actual reason.

Well, in the military's case, to be blunt, yes, that is exactly what happens. Up until about 2008-2009, military personell could litterally kill someone for giving them a dirty look. They toned it down a bit, but still, military has huge leeway to get away with things.

As for riot control, there's two situations, there's the detaining situation, which I will call the "prison" situation in which they don't really abuse their power, and in fact usually use it properly in detaining an individual or smaller groups. Then there's the rioting situation, which I'll call the "chaos" situation in which there's not much control on the government's part, so they are litterally allowed to go wild, and harm anyone who is within the rioting area whether they actually are, or aren't part of the riot.