Stories of police brutality are often told in a way that casts victims as helpless bystanders of cops run amok. We met with Sean Pagan, a recent victim of police violence, and found that his story changes how we think about policing in New York. Sean’s story shows that communities are finding new and innovative tactics for dealing with discriminatory policing, beyond waiting for legislative reform. One such tactic is copwatch, in which individuals or teams film police officers in action. But what’s the history of the tactic? What are the risks, limitations and impact of filming the police? And how do these videos change the way we understand narratives of police violence?
Being able to film police in action is a precious right. I was arrested on the Spanish Stairs in Rome for photographing a policeman arresting a woman. In Italy at that time, it was illegal to photograph any police actions. Because I would not relinquish my camera, I was arrested.
I admire your work in preserving this important right. Now the next step is for the police to be held accountable.
I no longer leave the house without my digital camera and my cell phone w/ built in digital camera. Back in the 1960s we called them “PIGS.” Guess what…They are still “PIGS” and far too many of them have that “us against them” mentality. Most of them have very little college training and often less than one year of actual police school education. They are given weapons and as if by magic they become “know-it-alls” and hit the street to tell you what rights you have and don’t have.
Police must be held to account. If they are not– what will deter them from bullying and perpetrating war upon the public at their own whim?? George Zimmerman used the phony “stand your ground” gun law in Florida to target his enemy–that just so happened to be “the same old target” all black youths. This is not aircraft science it is common knowledge. Stop the militarization of police and make them accountable to serve and protect the American citizenry. If this is not done it is horrifying to think what can occur!!
(Sorry for the type O) Meant to say “Most black ‘male’ youths”.
One of the more important functions police need to do in a society is to be both peacekeeper and protector. How police respond to public protest, and their use of force in general, is something in which we all should be concerned. For more on this and other important police improvement issues, see “Arrested Development: A Veteran Police Chief Sounds Off About Protest, Racism, Corruption and the Seven Steps Necessary to Improve Our Nation’s Police” (Amazon.com). And my blog at http://improvingpolice.wordpress.com/ where other current police improvement issues are discussed. The goal in a free society is to have great police. Great police are police who are well-trained and led, restrained in their use of force, honest, and courteous to every person.
I agree with you.
Knowing why Occupy people protest was not given an enough thought and consideration. If the police truly understood the issue, they would have joined in the protest themselves.
Otherwise, the police must stand back and allow peaceful protests to proceed.
Police are people too, and must be capable of understanding historical context along with the current event they arrive to ‘police.’ Policing is judging more than simple law, or following orders. Orders given to officers must be lawful and correct before they can ever be obeyed. When illegal orders are then conveyed onto the public, there can be trouble all around.
Police have a job they chose and they are given extra lawful protections too. Police have the weapons designed for modern warfare – designed to kill with great effect.
Common cause must enter everyone’s thinking and more so, their doing. The police must protect peaceful protesters at all costs.
It is interesting to note that popular TV series like Blue Bloods reflect the contempt police show for anyone deemed working class (how ironic since most cops are not very welathy). The main protagonist will routinely rough up poorer suspects, but will treat the city’s wealthy with respect, even when arresting said person. Do the movies reflect or inform police behaviour? I guess the relationship is complex, but the portrayal cannot be too far from a fairly accurate snapshot of police behaviour in the US today.
A telling example of this phenomenon was a report here by my colleague Bryan Farrell about an Occupy Wall Street action in which the people doing civil disobedience dressed like businesspeople: