Illegal to video tape the police in public?

[GostHacked]

LOL! Obviously you have never been pulled over for speeding in Maryland, one of the most aggressive traffic enforcement juridictions in the USA. The idiot on the bike posted his illegal audio recording, and now has some explaining to do.

Well of course, but the cops actions were not becoming of an officer. That should not be tolerated at all.

[bush_cheney2004]

Well of course, but the cops actions were not becoming of an officer. That should not be tolerated at all.

How so? A non-uniformed officer in an unmarked traffic control squad car doesn't operate the same as Car 54 Where Are You?

What part of "Get off the motorcycle....state police" is not clear to you?

[GostHacked]

How so? A non-uniformed officer in an unmarked traffic control squad car doesn't operate the same as Car 54 Where Are You?

What part of "Get off the motorcycle....state police" is not clear to you?

What part of, off duty cop who cut off a rider and pulled a gun before announcing he was a cop is not clear to you? That cop is a hot head and needs to be removed from the force, if that is all it takes to get this guy's panties in a bunch, then he is not a cop I want on the force. I want level headed keep cool under the pressure, kind of people, There really was not pressure here in this situation and the cop crossed the line.

But when you Americans are used to police brutality, I can understand why it's not a big deal.

I know. Canada. Got anything else oh predictable one?

[Sir Bandelot]

Lets not forget the whole Robert Dziekanski thing, and what the cops said happened, versus reality. Had there not been video evidence of his murder, we would never have known and written him off as just another nut who deserved what he had coming.

Full details of the incident came to light because it was filmed by a member of the public,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Dzieka%C5%84ski_Taser_incident

Oh and while I'm on this point, wondering what's up with the criminal charges. These folks are taking their sweet time deciding what to do next, while potential murderers still roam freely.

"Three of the officers have been transferred out of province and are on administrative duties, while the one who remains in the province was suspended with pay pending his trial on an obstruction of justice charge in relation to a fatal car accident."

Tough on crime, my &^%^$$

[wyly]

if any of us were to do some of the stuff police have been caught doing on video and we'd be facing criminal charges...they may have a tough job but they need to follow the laws just like the rest of us...

in regards to video's being illegal then reverse would also be true... how could surveillance footage be used as evidence of crimes in progress wouldn't all video recordings be private as well?...red light cameras, speeding cameras?

[Guest American Woman]

What part of, off duty cop who cut off a rider and pulled a gun before announcing he was a cop is not clear to you?

Where are you getting that he was an off duty cop from? Why would a cop who is off duty be sitting on the cut-across between the two sides of the interstate the way he was?

That cop is a hot head and needs to be removed from the force, if that is all it takes to get this guy's panties in a bunch, then he is not a cop I want on the force. I want level headed keep cool under the pressure, kind of people, There really was not pressure here in this situation and the cop crossed the line.

Guess what? It doesn't matter if you want him on the force or not. You don't know the first thing about his history in the force or what was going through his mind when he stopped this man. You are making a judgement without even hearing his side of the story.

The guy on the motorcycle clearly broke the law. I watched the tape and saw the motorcycle weaving in and out of traffic. At one point the tape shows him popping a wheelie, doing 127 mph, and he was charged with doing 80 in a 65 mph zone. He clearly turns around and sees the car behind him. He also turns on the volume of his camera the minute the cop steps out. There's no doubt in my mind that he knew he was filming a cop.

Furthermore, I don't know about Maryland, but in my state unmarked trooper cars can be identified by their license plates and I'm guessing the same holds true in Maryland.

But when you Americans are used to police brutality, I can understand why it's not a big deal.

Oh, yes. We're used to it. We deal with police brutality on a daily basis. While such incidents never occur in Canada. Except they do.

FYI, the cop in no way engaged in behavior that could be termed "police brutality." There's a huge difference between "inappropriate behavior," "being a "hot head," and "police brutality."

[bush_cheney2004]

What part of, off duty cop who cut off a rider and pulled a gun before announcing he was a cop is not clear to you?

LOL! (again)....so afraid of guns are we?

That cop is a hot head and needs to be removed from the force, if that is all it takes to get this guy's panties in a bunch, then he is not a cop I want on the force. I want level headed keep cool under the pressure, kind of people, There really was not pressure here in this situation and the cop crossed the line.

Of course...maybe the police officer just needs to smoke some dope to relax more, eh?

But when you Americans are used to police brutality, I can understand why it's not a big deal.

It's not a big deal for motocycle perps making videos of illegal driving for peer points on YouTube.

I know. Canada. Got anything else oh predictable one?

I didn't say anything about Canada. But if you ever visit the USA and pull this kind of stunting, don't expect the arresting police officers to kiss your ass. "Mommy, he pulled out his gun!"....LOL!

Edited August 6, 2010 by bush_cheney2004

[bush_cheney2004]

double post

Edited August 6, 2010 by bush_cheney2004

[GostHacked]

Full video without sound. And we know the cop did not identify himself as a cop before pulling the gun. yes they guy was speeding, and yes the cop was wrong in his actions. If a cop pulls a gun right away for a simple traffic violation . . .

[GostHacked]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHjjF55M8JQ&feature=related

Here is audio

Pulls gun

Get off the bike get off the bike, state police.

The cop broke protocol simple as that. Sure they guy was wrong in speeding, but the cop was also wrong in his actions.

Simple as that.

[bush_cheney2004]

Full video without sound. And we know the cop did not identify himself as a cop before pulling the gun. yes they guy was speeding, and yes the cop was wrong in his actions. If a cop pulls a gun right away for a simple traffic violation . . .

So what....police do not need your permission to "pull a gun". This officer brandished his sidearm and took control of the perp just like he was trained to do...with force. We see these kind of organ donor boy racers all the time.

I don't know what kind of perfect utopia you live in, but "pulling a gun" is standard procedure in traffic stops when a display of force is desired and required to control the perp, prevent flight, or prevent injury to officers and others.

I thought the cop was too patient when he told the perp to get off the bike, and he took his sweet time to remove racing gloves. Training says get the perp off the crotch rocket ASAP or he is a flight / high speed chase risk.

[bush_cheney2004]

Here is audio

Pulls gun

Get off the bike get off the bike, state police.

The cop broke protocol simple as that. Sure they guy was wrong in speeding, but the cop was also wrong in his actions.

Simple as that.

Are you a member of the Maryland State Police? Simple as that...you know nothing of the required "protocol".

Edited August 6, 2010 by bush_cheney2004

[Guest American Woman]

Here is audio

Pulls gun

Get off the bike get off the bike, state police.

The cop broke protocol simple as that. Sure they guy was wrong in speeding, but the cop was also wrong in his actions.

Simple as that.

I heard the audio. As I already pointed out, the audio was turned on when the police officer got out of the car.

Note that the officer keeps his gun pointed down at the ground with his finger off the trigger the whole time.

Now could you please provide a link to your information regarding Maryland State Police protocol?

[bush_cheney2004]

....Note that the officer keeps his gun pointed down at the ground with his finger off the trigger the whole time....

Exactly....looks likes a textbook example of proper procedure to me. No need to display a badge and identify as police beforehand. "No fair....you pulled a gun!"

[Guest American Woman]

Exactly....looks likes a textbook example of proper procedure to me. No need to display a badge and identify as police beforehand. "No fair....you pulled a gun!"

There's no doubt in my mind that the guy on the motorcycle knew he was being pulled over by a cop. It's no wonder cops object to being filmed when it means being subjected to the type of amateur scrutiny we're seeing in this thread.

[bush_cheney2004]

There's no doubt in my mind that the guy on the motorcycle knew he was being pulled over by a cop. It's no wonder cops object to being filmed when it means being subjected to the type of amateur scrutiny we're seeing in this thread.

Agreed...there is no way this guy would want to yield and pull over unless he knew he was busted. If these idiots want to drive recklessly, take it to the track.

[Sir Bandelot]

double post

So what? When you think about it, they're all basically the same.

[Bryan]

It's amazing to me that Americans are actually defending the pulling of a gun during a traffic stop. If that's considered acceptable behaviour, I'm sure glad I don't live there.

[bush_cheney2004]

It's amazing to me that Americans are actually defending the pulling of a gun during a traffic stop. If that's considered acceptable behaviour, I'm sure glad I don't live there.

Good news....you don't. As for your worries about unholstered guns, don't visit Compton, CA either.

Anyone else less obsessed in bashing Americans from "superior" Canada may find this balanced piece on unholstered guns interesting:

http://www.theppsc.org/Staff_Views/Aveni/Unholstered-Handgun.htm

Edited August 7, 2010 by bush_cheney2004

[Guest American Woman]

It's amazing to me that Americans are actually defending the pulling of a gun during a traffic stop. If that's considered acceptable behaviour, I'm sure glad I don't live there.

Gosh darn it. And here I was hoping you'd be moving here soon .....

You do realize that there's a huge difference between an officer unholstering his/her gun and pointing it at the person, right?

As has already been pointed out, this officer kept his gun pointed down and his hand off the trigger, and obviously put it back in the holster as soon as he could see the situation wasn't presenting a threat; which was almost immediately.

You don't really know the particulars of this traffic stop in spite of the clip that the cyclist chose to put on youtube. You don't know if the stance of the cyclist was possibly threatening, for example; we don't see or hear him. Just the cop. In other words, it's a very one sided video, and we see as much of it as the cyclist would like us to see.

For the record, cops have been killed in traffic stops.

[Bryan]

You do realize that there's a huge difference between an officer unholstering his/her gun and pointing it at the person, right?

Pulling the gun out at all is reprehensible if the suspect was not already brandishing a weapon.

[bush_cheney2004]

Pulling the gun out at all is reprehensible if the suspect was not already brandishing a weapon.

Why? Is this considered "impolite" in Canada? LOL!

It would be foolish to wait for the perp to brandish a weapon during a confrontational stop. Police officers are trained to take control of the scene, and this show of force was not out of line.

[Bryan]

Police officers are trained to take control of the scene, and this show of force was not out of line.

Maybe in a totalitarian police state.

[bush_cheney2004]

Maybe in a totalitarian police state.

So you don't think it ever happens in Canada? You just want to bash Americans.

[Guest American Woman]

Pulling the gun out at all is reprehensible if the suspect was not already brandishing a weapon.

It's not called "pulling the gun out;" it's called unholstering the gun so precious moments aren't wasted if it's needed. But of course "pulling the gun out" sounds much more sinister, eh? As I said, you have no idea of the posture, stance, attitude of the cyclist. None at all.

Perhaps if this officer had unholstered his gun beforehand, he would still be alive: Canadian cop shot, killed in traffic stop.

I'll never criticize a cop for something like this if he feels he needs to do it in order to protect himself. As I said, this cop unholstered his weapon, kept it pointed at the ground, and his finger off the trigger. He at no time pointed it at the cyclist or put his finger on the trigger. He simply had it available should he need it. And you fault that?

While it may amaze you that Americans are defending his unholstering his gun, it amazes me that amateurs thinks they know better than a trained cop what he should or shouldn't do in the line of duty, and feel qualified to judge.

Edited August 7, 2010 by American Woman