Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Truean]

The need pictures of them setting places for the police officers and graciously inviting the officers to join them while offering the officers a set of tableware all bundled in a white napkin.

On Occupy Indy's 2nd day, an anonymous person dropped by and made a huge order of pizza for everyone and then left.  No one even got the person's name.  Later, someone told me about how he went up and offered an officer some pizza, since some of it was just going to waste, and the response was "No thanks.  That would actually count as bribery."

Success.... Needs pics though. Better yet, video.

That would be great, but not likely without undermining the sentiment to the officer. 

Eh, arguably filming it doesn't undermine the sentiment as long as he really wanted the officer to have the slice of pizza.

Seriously, controlling the message is key, especially if you're within earshot of the trier of fact/jury:
Judge: "Counsel that issue is not relevant and the prosecution's objection is well taken."
Counsel: "But Your Honor, if the witness's statement isn't admitted into evidence, then the jury will never know the police didn't want to arrest my client...."

(The testimony was totally relevant by the way.... Also if the judge didn't want the jury to hear that argument, then sidebar should've been called.)

Edit: I know, I'm a terrible person and I'll get letters.... [sigh]

[SalmonGod]

I understand the objective.  I just imagine as an officer, seeing a guy walk up with a slice of pizza and a bunch of cameras following behind him would look quite staged to me... and probably to anyone watching the video.  But that's just what I would think, and I need to keep in mind that I think waaay differently from the majority of people.

Also, I just want to say thanks for visiting this thread so much.  I love that you're here offering advice.

[Vector]

Yeah.  I was going to say, we need you back in the PRT :I  Things have calmed down, which is good, but it has calmed down too much for my tastes.  Your super-cool expertise would be welcome.

[Nadaka]

At any public protest, every police officer should be filmed and recorded every moment. Every single instance of good police behavior and bad police behavior should be documented.

[Truean]

I understand the objective.  I just imagine as an officer, seeing a guy walk up with a slice of pizza and a bunch of cameras following behind him would look quite staged to me... and probably to anyone watching the video.  But that's just what I would think, and I need to keep in mind that I think waaay differently from the majority of people.

Also, I just want to say thanks for visiting this thread so much.  I love that you're here offering advice.

My pleasure.

See, to me, the issue isn't the camera, it's that the police officer is noticing it. Zoom feature fixes that !

You've gotta be all national geographic camera guy so the wildlife doesn't notice and alter their behavior accordingly. I would keep the British accent commentary about "being in their natural habitat to a minimum though.

Yeah.  I was going to say, we need you back in the PRT :I  Things have calmed down, which is good, but it has calmed down too much for my tastes.  Your super-cool expertise would be welcome.

Thank you. I was afraid I had made you upset; I have missed that thread. It was the only place I felt comfortable coming out....

At any public protest, every police officer should be filmed and recorded every moment. Every single instance of good police behavior and bad police behavior should be documented.

Yes, very yes. Lawyers need admissible evidence to mount a defense.... Cameras. Lots and lots of cameras! I can't say it enough.

[mainiac]

At any public protest, every police officer should be filmed and recorded every moment. Every single instance of good police behavior and bad police behavior should be documented.

Yeah, probably.  Just recording the actions would end most problems.

[SalmonGod]

So is there any reason officer's can't converse with protesters when they're just standing around?  I watch the Indy livestream at night, and it's really mellow... just 20-40 people standing around... and waaay off to the side somewhere is a policeman or two just standing and watching.  I've kinda wondered why no one just goes up and talks to them, but I'm guessing there's some legal reason for that.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

At any public protest, every police officer should be filmed and recorded every moment. Every single instance of good police behavior and bad police behavior should be documented.

Yes, very yes. Lawyers need admissible evidence to mount a defense.... Cameras. Lots and lots of cameras! I can't say it enough.

Uhh...Truean, you really should mention how you can get 20 years in prison for filming a police officer on duty.

[Truean]

So is there any reason officer's can't converse with protesters when they're just standing around?  I watch the Indy livestream at night, and it's really mellow... just 20-40 people standing around... and waaay off to the side somewhere is a policeman or two just standing and watching.  I've kinda wondered why no one just goes up and talks to them, but I'm guessing there's some legal reason for that.

Protester's viewpoint:
Simplified: If you walk up to the police and the police officer sees something in plain view that gives him a reason to arrest you then you're screwed.

Expanded: Not per se that I'm aware of in a strict sense. Though there is always a concern about admissibility of evidence when you talk to the police. There are three (3) states of admissibility evidence gatherings in the U.S. voluntary encounters, reasonable suspicion and probable cause. That first one is where you are talking to the officer, or the officer voluntarily talks to you. It's boringly complicated, but basically the simplified version above sets out the part that matters here.

Officer's Point of View:
Simplified: Being able to say, "I never saw or heard of that protester," really helps if shit hits the fan and police brutality or other negative stuff comes out. Moreover, the interests that control  the police do not want them getting chummy with the Protesters as I've said before....

[Truean]

At any public protest, every police officer should be filmed and recorded every moment. Every single instance of good police behavior and bad police behavior should be documented.

Yes, very yes. Lawyers need admissible evidence to mount a defense.... Cameras. Lots and lots of cameras! I can't say it enough.

Uhh...Truean, you really should mention how you can get 20 years in prison for filming a police officer on duty.

I... what? I'm sorry, is there something I'm not aware of? I know for a fact you can in Ohio, though I guess it depends on the jurisdiction:
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/08/people_have_the_right_to_video.html
http://ohioccwforums.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=54953

And that's the chief of police here saying that:
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/08/people_have_the_right_to_video.html
http://www.righttorecord.org/?p=435
http://ohiocopblock.org/128/cleveland-police-chief-upholds-right-to-film/

Edit:

Ok,  now I see what you're talking about

NOTE: EVERY STATE'S LAW IS DIFFERENT. CHECK YOURS BEFOREHAND.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I... what? I'm sorry, is there something I'm not aware of? I know for a fact you can in Ohio, though I guess it depends on the jurisdiction:

If there's such a thing as laywerrage, this will probably serve to kindle it. So no, not illegal in Ohio quite yet, but in at least three other states.

[Truean]

I... what? I'm sorry, is there something I'm not aware of? I know for a fact you can in Ohio, though I guess it depends on the jurisdiction:

If there's such a thing as laywerrage, this will probably serve to kindle it. So no, not illegal in Ohio quite yet, but in at least three other states.

Kindled....

Yeah, Edit ninja'd. I'd say that crap is right for a first amendment challenge, but I don't want any of you being the test case.... I know I could make a hell of an argument on those grounds, and I can't believe they actually made those laws. It is not illegal in Ohio, and it never will be, especially when we have the chief of police saying it is protected by the first amendment. [see last post]

My God, that's horrid. I can't imagine that withstanding fundamental right strict scrutiny.... Hell, conservative Justices S and T will probably stand up against that. I agree with the article you cited. Its an insane application of the two party consent law. No expectation of privacy in public, no interference with police investigation because it's all public (see "no expectation of privacy"). I just... wow. Again, even if a 1st amendment challenge was raised, it'd be a federal lawsuit and I don't want any of you at the center of that. Gee, I wonder why they don't want taped....

Thank you for pointing that out. I had never heard of that ridiculous application of the two party recording consent statutes.

[Vector]

Well, I was kind of pissed off for a while (mostly at the situation, not at you), but now boredom + friend-feelings > anger and I want my adorable and brilliant Truean back :I

[Truean]

Well, I was kind of pissed off for a while (mostly at the situation, not at you), but now boredom + friend-feelings > anger and I want my adorable and brilliant Truean back :I

[hug] thank you. Will post soon....

[mainiac]

I am really scared to know that recording cops is illegal in Maryland.  I've generally thought of us as one of the states with the least bullshit.  WTF?  Isn't this the sort of thing that is obvious on the face?  If the founding fathers had known that there would be a device that could prevent police abuse like a camera could they would have considered it like the best freaking thing ever.