Officer who scuffled with photographer fired

[photoguy6405]

Officer who scuffled with photographer fired

http://kob.com/article/stories/S578979.shtml?cat=502

[shannyD]

interesting story.

[FlyingPhotog]

I hesitate to call a newsie for a local station a "Photographer" but I guess it's still one for the good guys...

[chauncey]

My opinion is that government employees nor their employers should have immunity from civil action.

Might cut down on the Napoleon complex issues.

[turbo212003]

Serves him right. I'm glad he was fired.

[STP 40D]

I hesitate to call a newsie for a local station a "Photographer" but I guess it's still one for the good guys...

Doesn't that suggest that all cops are "the bad guys"?

I don't think that's true...

[AndreaBFS]

I'm glad the law was upheld in this case. There is no way anyone could look at that video and say he was interfering with anything. The street was completely deserted and the police were just standing around. It certainly appears that the officer was just being punitive because someone didn't fall before his feet and obey his completely irrational whim. You've gotta love the conviction of the female officer, "umm.. stop? you're umm... not complying... ?? right?" :lol:

[Ultimate CC]

glad he got fired, serves him right...

[thebishopp]

Good video. Good ruling. Good firing.

The female officer seemed to think that any order from a police officer was a "lawful" order (evidenced by her statement that the other officer had given him one)... the judge's ruling definately shows that not ALL orders from police are lawful and need to be obeyed.

"The judge said the photographer was within his rights to be on a public street. "That in and of itself is not illegal, for instance the officer could run down to 4th and Lomas right now and tell everyone on all corners to just leave. The officer could then cite everybody who didn't leave with the crime of refusing to obey an officer," the judge said."

Might be a good story to print out and keep in your pocket :-)

[thebishopp]

Doesn't that suggest that all cops are "the bad guys"?

I don't think that's true...

I don't think it implies that. Just that this particular cop (as well as the one backing him up in the video) are the "bad guys" in this instance and the news guys are the "good guys", in this instance.

This doesn't mean there aren't good law enforcement out there and I'm sure there quite a lot of them who, if being in the situation, would of stepped in and told the other officer to back off (in fact the judge can definately be called a "good guy" in this case) or wouldn't have bothered the reporter at all.

[ssim]

I hesitate to call a newsie for a local station a "Photographer" but I guess it's still one for the good guys...

That's a pretty harsh comment to those that make their living behind video cameras. In my opinion they are as much of a photographer as we are. Would it be better if we called them Videographer??

Me thinks that there was something more beyond this instance with the officer in question. I wouldn't think that this instance alone would justify his release from service.

[FlyingPhotog]

Doesn't that suggest that all cops are "the bad guys"?

I don't think that's true...

That's a pretty harsh comment to those that make their living behind video cameras. In my opinion they are as much of a photographer as we are. Would it be better if we called them Videographer??

Me thinks that there was something more beyond this instance with the officer in question. I wouldn't think that this instance alone would justify his release from service.

Easy Cowboys...

I've been in TV for nearly 25 years. I have great respect for my camera operating bretheren. But, a news shooter at a very small market station is not a "photographer." They are sent out on the street with a rudimentary understanding of how to get their microwave unit up and running. The reporters with them have no more experience either. And, the Producers and News Directors back at the shop don't have much more experience as well.

I fully support their right to do their jobs in an unimpeded fashion but this would not be the first case of a newsie coming off full of p*ss and vinegar feeling that they had the world by the b*lls and could just set up and shoot as they see fit. It's a very common thing for newly minted newsies to think they're going to be the next Murrow or Chronkite which leads to a very rude awakening.

May I respectfully remind you of the cases sighted from both the RNC and DNC where newsies failed to do as they were told by law enforcement and were sumarrily charged?

Not saying this shooter was doing anything wrong (and yes, I watched the video and it made me very angry .. the cop was {IMO} clearly in the wrong)

One thing you must understand: When you've been in the business for a very long time, you develop a sense of "Gallows Humor" where each phase of the business (Video, Audio, VideoTape, Camera Operators...) is subject to pretty harsh ribbing from each of the other disciplines.

Myself, I'm a "VideoTape" Operator (Slo Mo Replay and Non Linear Editing systems are my specialty) and we routinely tease our camera operating brothers that when they learn to walk upright, they can be tape ops too!

There are many Reporters, Producers, New Directors and News Shooters who are as fired up to make a name for themselves on the streets as there are Cops who want to do the same. I've been there, I've done that and I have eight of these:

http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/102591385.jpg

... that say I know what I'm talking about.

My World:
http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/scenes_from_the_road

Let me reiterate: the Cop was flat wrong but it takes two to dance...

[Aaagogo]

save and printed and going into my camera bag

[SteveBrown]

Easy Cowboys...

I've been in TV for nearly 25 years. I have great respect for my camera operating bretheren. But, a news shooter at a very small market station is not a "photographer." They are sent out on the street with a rudimentary understanding of how to get their microwave unit up and running. The reporters with them have no more experience either. And, the Producers and News Directors back at the shop don't have much more experience as well.

I fully support their right to do their jobs in an unimpeded fashion but this would not be the first case of a newsie coming off full of p*ss and vinegar feeling that they had the world by the b*lls and could just set up and shoot as they see fit. It's a very common thing for newly minted newsies to think they're going to be the next Murrow or Chronkite which leads to a very rude awakening.

May I respectfully remind you of the cases sighted from both the RNC and DNC where newsies failed to do as they were told by law enforcement and were sumarrily charged?

Not saying this shooter was doing anything wrong (and yes, I watched the video and it made me very angry .. the cop was {IMO} clearly in the wrong)

One thing you must understand: When you've been in the business for a very long time, you develop a sense of "Gallows Humor" where each phase of the business (Video, Audio, VideoTape, Camera Operators...) is subject to pretty harsh ribbing from each of the other disciplines.

Myself, I'm a "VideoTape" Operator (Slo Mo Replay and Non Linear Editing systems are my specialty) and we routinely tease our camera operating brothers that when they learn to walk upright, they can be tape ops too!

There are many Reporters, Producers, New Directors and News Shooters who are as fired up to make a name for themselves on the streets as there are Cops who want to do the same. I've been there, I've done that and I have eight of these:

http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/102591385.jpg

... that say I know what I'm talking about.

My World:
http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/scenes_from_the_road

Let me reiterate: the Cop was flat wrong but it takes two to dance...

What kind of car did that come off of? :lol:

Just kidding, very nice.

[FlyingPhotog]

What kind of car did that come off of? :lol:

Just kidding, very nice.

Good Answer... ;)

IIRC, it was a Rolls Royce of some kind :p

(Thank You .. Broadcasting can be a very, very thankless job sometimes but every once in a while you do get a small piece of the brass ring as recognition from your peers...)

FWIW, they make excellent door stops and paper weights and if you put some rubber non-skid on the bottom, they'll also stop up a bathtub drain in a pinch..!)

[thebishopp]

That's a pretty harsh comment to those that make their living behind video cameras. In my opinion they are as much of a photographer as we are. Would it be better if we called them Videographer??

Me thinks that there was something more beyond this instance with the officer in question. I wouldn't think that this instance alone would justify his release from service.

Probably was, however the video captured an unlawful restraint (don't know if he was taken to jail) and physical assault. This is a very very very serious situation and can't be classified as "this instance alone".

Because the restraint/arrest was unlawful, depending upon the laws of that state, the officer could of been charged with the misdemeanor assault and possibly some form of kidnapping/unlawful restraint (which can be a felony in some states).

Odd are they struck a deal with the officer and dismissed him rather than seek criminal charges (which since there was a video of the incident as well as the judges ruling, would of been hard to defend against).

[FlyingPhotog]

Probably was, however the video captured an unlawful restraint (don't know if he was taken to jail) and physical assault. This is a very very very serious situation and can't be classified as "this instance alone".

Because the restraint/arrest was unlawful, depending upon the laws of that state, the officer could of been charged with the misdemeanor assault and possibly some form of kidnapping/unlawful restraint (which can be a felony in some states).

Odd are they struck a deal with the officer and dismissed him rather than seek criminal charges (which since there was a video of the incident as well as the judges ruling, would of been hard to defend against).

Good Point...

I can't for the life of me understand why any LEO would get up in the grill of a videographer who is probably (if he/she is on the ball) rolling tape at the time.

If you want to give a newsie grief, get 'em when the camera is stowed and they're feeding the station or editing. That way, there's no tape in the camera!

;)

[thebishopp]

Good Point...

I can't for the life of me understand why any LEO would get up in the grill of a videographer who is probably (if he/she is on the ball) rolling tape at the time.

If you want to give a newsie grief, get 'em when the camera is stowed and they're feeding the station or editing. That way, there's no tape in the camera!

;)


I'm actually an excop and can't understand for the life of me why one would do what this guy did. I have met a lot of "judge dredds" (used to be called wyatt earps) "I am the LAW!!!" fellows. These guys don't really know the laws (or don't care) and get very angry when someone doesn't listen to them. It's kind of a power trip for some.

Personally I never had a problem with news crews or photographers. As long as they stayed behind the tape then no problem.

In fact I was taught that news crews can be an asset... in certain types of crimes the perp likes to come back and watch all the drama unfold and that sometimes tapes or pictures of the scene and bystanders by news crews/photogs can actually contain a picture of either the perp himself or of possible eye witnesses who might not initially come forward.

In addition sometimes a news crew or photog may actually capture details of the scene (usually in accidents) prior to the arrival of officers.