How Should Law Enforcement Handle Being Filmed?

[Bob J]

Officer Lyons does an awesome job.....

As Techdirt readers are aware, the general attitude of law enforcement tends to worsen quickly once the cameras come out. From holding citizens at gunpoint until they destroy their cameras to pressing charges against bystanders filming from their own property, hardly a week goes by without another uploaded video demonstrating that, for the most part, the easiest way to get on a cop's bad side is to whip out a phone or a camera.

Fortunately, there are exceptions. Reason Hit & Run directs our attention to Officer Matthew J. Lyons of the Oceanside, California police department. Lyons runs into a few issues that usually send other officers scrambling for their handguns and threats: an openly-carried weapon and a camera.

However, Lyons handles the situation in a professional, cordial manner, even as the person filming the encounter declines to show him any ID or provide a last name. Even better, he commends him for exercising his rights.

Officer Lyons

 

[mremski]

If the person is not interfering with the officer doing their job, they should just ignore them. LEOs don't get bent out of shape because a store security camera is recording them, do they? How about a TV crew? If the person filming is interfering in any way, then sure arrest them for interfering. But standing on the opposite side of the road, not saying anything, just recording, should be ignored.

 

[Bob J]

I certainly agree.... The interesting thing here is how well the officer handled the situation when it was clearly a set up...

If the person is not interfering with the officer doing their job, they should just ignore them. LEOs don't get bent out of shape because a store security camera is recording them, do they? How about a TV crew? If the person filming is interfering in any way, then sure arrest them for interfering. But standing on the opposite side of the road, not saying anything, just recording, should be ignored.

 

[Jose]

The interesting thing here is how well the officer handled the situation when it was clearly a set up...

Maybe he was smart enough to not take the bait?

Just sayin....

 

[WaldoOneFive]

Officer Lyons does an awesome job.....

Officer Lyons

DUPE.

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vb...e-of-the-coin!?highlight=CCW+open+carry+video

Original:

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vb...-in-long-time!?highlight=CCW+open+carry+video

 

[Bob J]

MEGA-DUPE.

Ah, missed that.... Here is the dupe thread:

Best-open-carry-video-in-long-time

 

[Dirtypacman]

Thanks for sharing that was a good watch